Monday Volume 695 17 May 2021 No. 4

HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)

Monday 17 May 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/. 389 17 MAY 2021 390 House of Commons Oral Answers to Questions

Monday 17 May 2021 WORK AND PENSIONS The House met at half-past Two o’clock

PRAYERS The Secretary of State was asked—

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair] PIP Application Process Virtual participation in proceedings commenced (Order, 4 June and 30 December 2020). Matt Vickers (Stockton South) (Con): What plans [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] she has to review the application process for personal independence payment awards. [900000] NEW MEMBER The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work The following Member made and subscribed the (Justin Tomlinson): We are currently reviewing the Affirmation required by law: application process for all personal independence payment Anum Qaisar-Javed, for Airdrie and Shotts. claimants. Building on our covid response PIP 2 online service, whereby claimants can receive and submit their Mr Speaker: I will suspend the House briefly to PIP 2 online, we are in the early stages of developing a enable the necessary arrangements for the next business new end-to-end application process and plan to test it to be made. later this year. 2.35 pm Matt Vickers: As we return to normality, what steps Sitting suspended. are being taken to ensure that PIP claimants are assessed Speaker’s Statement promptly, so that those in need of support can access it as quickly as possible? 2.36 pm Justin Tomlinson: I am conscious that my hon. Friend Mr Speaker: I have a short statement to make about has raised some specific cases directly with me. As we the number of Members permitted in the Chamber. At return to normality, we have received more claims than its meeting this morning, the House of Commons normal. We are working hard to get through those as Commission decided that, in accordance with Public quickly as possible, with average clearance times slightly Health England advice, it is now possible to safely up from 16 to 19 weeks. As face-to-face assessments increase the number of Members able to participate start to return, those unable to be assessed through physically in the proceedings of the House. These changes paper-based reviews, telephone or video assessments mean that a total of 64 Members are now able to speak will be prioritised. in the Chamber—almost double the original number. The changes include seven marked seats in the Under Support for Tenants with Rent Arrears Galleries beyond the Bar of the House that have had new microphones installed to enable this. Nigel Mills (Amber Valley) (Con): What steps her Department is taking to ensure that the welfare system I remind Members to sit only in the marked seats and helps support tenants with rent arrears to sustain their to contribute only from those seats, as I do not want to tenancies. [900001] disappoint them if they are not taken. I also remind Members that they must wear a mask when in the The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work Chamber, other than when speaking. That is one of the and Pensions (Will Quince): At the start of the pandemic, steps that means we are able to allow more Members we invested almost £1 billion in local housing allowance into the Chamber. rates, and we have made £140 million available in I am grateful, as I am sure all Members of the House discretionary housing payment funding for local authorities are, for the quick work by the House service that has in England and Wales, to support those struggling with made these changes possible in response to the improving housing costs. We continue to work closely with the public health situation. I understand that many Members Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will be keen to attend the House in person to participate to support people to sustain their tenancies. in debate. Although capacity in the Chamber has increased, it is still limited, and I must remind colleagues that I will Nigel Mills [V]: I thank the Minister for that answer. suspend proceedings if I consider that the Chamber is Would he accept, however, that there are many tenants becoming overcrowded. Nevertheless, I believe that every who, through no fault of their own, will be in significant additional Member in this Chamber brings us a step rent arrears and therefore facing eviction in the next few closer to returning to normality, which I and all other months, and will he therefore work on a cross-Government Members wish to see. basis to find a solution that means those arrears can be cleared over a sensible period and those tenancies secured? Will Quince: I thank my hon. Friend for his question. Wecontinue to work very closely with the MHCLG to find long-term solutions to housing challenges. Work coaches are trained to identify people with potential housing issues and to provide tailored support, including referrals to homelessness services or debt advice. Discretionary 391 Oral Answers 17 MAY 2021 Oral Answers 392 housing payments are available, and the Government Stephen Timms (East Ham) (Lab): Hard-working, will make available a £310 million homelessness prevention law-abiding families without indefinite leave to remain grant for local authorities. However, I would of course have not had as much support as others during the be very happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss what covid-19 outbreak because of the effect of the no recourse further measures we may be able to take. to public funds condition. Some of those families have been able to benefit from the job retention scheme, so Ms Karen Buck (Westminster North) (Lab): With the how will they be supported after that scheme closes in end of the eviction ban imminent, more than half of September? claimants needing help with housing costs face a shortfall between the help available and their actual rent—£100 a Will Quince: The right hon. Member knows that we month in the case of universal credit claimants. The are restricted, as per legislation, in what we can do in Government always say that discretionary housing relation to the benefits system and those with no recourse payments are the answer to these shortfalls, so can the to public funds. I know this is an issue that he cares very Minister explain to us why discretionary housing payments passionately about and has raised numerous times. I have suffered a real-terms cut and will be lower this year would certainly be very happy to raise this issue with than they were before the pandemic? the Immigration Minister—the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member Will Quince: I thank the hon. Lady for that question. for Torbay (Kevin Foster)—and if we have a meeting, I We take this issue incredibly seriously. That is why we will certainly invite the right hon. Member along. pumped an additional nearly £1 billion into the local housing allowance and have frozen it in cash terms for a Universal Credit Uplift further year, and why we have the two-week run-on of housing benefit, direct payments to landlords available, Hannah Bardell (Livingston) (SNP): What recent £140 million in DHPs, the homelessness prevention assessment she has made of the potential effect of grant, work coach support and, of course, Money and removing the £20 uplift to universal credit on recipients Pensions Service support. We stand ready to support of that benefit. [900003] any tenant who needs that support to sustain their tenancy and prevent homelessness. Allan Dorans (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (SNP): Covid-19: Support with Essential Living Costs What recent assessment she has made of the potential effect of removing the £20 uplift to universal credit on recipients of that benefit. [900010] Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con): What steps her Department is taking to support people with essential The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work living costs during the covid-19 outbreak. [900002] and Pensions (Will Quince): Since the start of the pandemic, the Government’s priority has been to protect lives and The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work people’slivelihoods.In March, the Government announced and Pensions (Will Quince): The Government are delivering that we were extending the temporary £20-a-week increase an unprecedented package of support, injecting billions in universal credit for a further six months. It is right into the welfare system. This includes a £20 uplift to that the Government should now shift our focus to universal credit and a one-off payment of £500 to working supporting people back into work, and we have a tax credit recipients, as well as rolling out our covid comprehensive plan for jobs to help us to achieve this. local support grant scheme, worth over £260 million to local authorities. Hannah Bardell: This Tory Government chose to cut the lifeline of the £20 universal credit uplift in October, Michael Fabricant [V]: As a good Conservative, I at the worst possible time, clashing with the withdrawal believe in devolution, and I think local government is of the furlough scheme which the Office for Budget far better placed than national Government to provide Responsibility warned will lead to UK unemployment emergency support. Does my hon. Friend the Minister levels peaking, hitting young people particularly hard. agree with me, and if not, why not? Will the Minister apologise to those whom his Government have pushed into further poverty and ask the Chancellor Will Quince: I thank my hon. Friend for his question, to do the decent thing and keep £20 uplift and extend it and I do agree with him that the Government do not to legacy benefits? always know best. Actually, very often local authorities are best placed to decide how to allocate local funding Will Quince: The Government have always been clear to meet local need. That is why we moved quickly to that the £20 increase was a temporary measure to implement innovative schemes during the pandemic, support households affected by the economic shock of including the covid winter grant scheme and the local covid-19. I am pleased to say that there have been welfare assistance scheme. I have to say that, in his own significant positive developments in the public health constituency, Staffordshire County Council has spent situation since the increase was first announced, including the £3 million it was awarded on some really innovative the hugely successful vaccine roll-out. I have to repeat projects, including oil heaters, warmth packs and, of that it is therefore right that the Government should course, food to support vulnerable families during the now shift focus to supporting people back into work school holidays, meeting our objective of ensuring that and to progress in work, and we have a comprehensive vulnerable families would stay warm and well fed over plan via our £30 billion plan for jobs that will help us the winter. achieve this. 393 Oral Answers 17 MAY 2021 Oral Answers 394

Allan Dorans: The Trussell Trust reports that hunger Will Quince: The opposite is in fact the case. Many of in the United Kingdom is not about access to food, but those with a disability will be better off on universal credit, about low incomes from the social security safety net, and it is important, as the hon. Gentleman suggests, that revealing that 95% of people referred to food banks in they go on a benefits calculator—one of the independent early 2020 were living in destitution, with just £248 a benefits calculators on gov.uk—and check their eligibility. month on average to survive on after housing costs. Does Labour Members—and the hon. Gentleman is no exception the Minister recognise that removing the £20 uplift to —regularly come to this House and ask for many universal credit later this year will only push more billions of pounds more to be spent on benefits after the families into hardship and deprivation across the United pandemic. Let us be clear: that is exactly what the hon. Kingdom? Gentleman is asking for when he refers to the universal credit uplift. I have to say that we fundamentally disagree Will Quince: No one in this House wants to see with Labour’s approach. It is an approach that under anyone in this country reliant on a food bank, and the the last Labour Government left a generation trapped Secretary of State and I are working across Government on benefits and in poverty, incentivised not to work, and to identify and tackle the root causes of food insecurity left children growing up in workless households, and we and poverty. In the meantime, we continue to spend know what that meant for their life chances. Work is the over £100 billion a year on benefits for working-age best route out of poverty, and that is why we have put people, and during the pandemic we have pumped an jobs and supporting people into work at the heart of additional £7.4 billion into our welfare system to support everything we do. The difference could not be clearer: those facing the most financial disruption. But I hope Labour’s focus is on billions of pounds more on benefits the hon. Gentleman will agree that it is right that we and the Government’s focus is on jobs, jobs, jobs. now shift our focus to supporting people back into work, because all evidence suggests that work is the best David Linden (Glasgow East) (SNP): It is not just the route out of poverty, and we have a comprehensive plan SNP, the Work and Pensions Committee and a range of to do this via our £30 billion plan for jobs. stakeholders who are urging the UK Government to make the £20 uplift permanent, but 100 Conservative Jonathan Reynolds (Stalybridge and Hyde) (Lab/Co-op): MPs in the Tory Reform Group and the one nation Since 2010 poverty has risen significantly in all parts of caucus. Is the Minister really saying that he disagrees the UK, so much so that, despite having a job, one in with 100 of his own MPs who say it would be wrong to eight workers are living in poverty under this Conservative slash £1,000 a year from household budgets just as we Government. Given that the Government are adamant are coming out of the teeth of this pandemic? that they will make this cut to universal credit, which will affect people in work, should we understand that Will Quince: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his despite the Prime Minister’s levelling-up agenda, in-work question and welcome him to his place. Throughout poverty will continue to rise? this pandemic, this Government have consistently stepped up to support the lowest-paid, poorest and most vulnerable Will Quince: We take this issue incredibly seriously, in our society. During the pandemic, the focus has which is whywe have the In-Work Progression Commission, rightly been on ensuring that people facing the most which is due to report back soon, and why we spend financial disruption got the support that they needed as over £100 billion a year supporting people of working quickly as possible, but all evidence suggests that work age through the benefit system and put an £7.4 billion is the best route out of poverty. We had a jobs miracle into the welfare system over the course of the pandemic before the pandemic, and with the help of our £30 billion to support those facing the most financial disruption. plan for jobs, the support of business and creating the But I have to say to the hon. Gentleman that he knows right environment, we will do so again. That is exactly that the best route out of poverty is work. All the why we shift our focus to supporting people back into evidence suggests that that is the case; that is why all the work and to progress in work. We are doing that with efforts of this Government will be about, yes, ensuring the extra 13,500 work coaches in our jobcentres up and that we have a strong, robust welfare safety net but also down the country and our £30 billion comprehensive that the focus is on jobs, jobs, jobs—and through our plan for jobs. £30 billion plan for jobs we will achieve that. Prison Leavers: Support into Employment Jonathan Reynolds: I say to the Minister that work is the best route out of poverty but it has not been working for the last 11 years, and the evidence is there Miriam Cates (Penistone and Stocksbridge) (Con): for all to see. What steps her Department is taking to support prison Many disabled people are worse off on universal leavers into employment. [900004] credit than under the old legacy systems. Ministers know this because they were forced to introduce transitional The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Dr Thérèse protections and, when speaking in this Chamber, always Coffey): We are committed to cross-Government working urge people to use a benefits calculator when applying to help prison leavers into work and to reduce reoffending. in case moving to universal credit would cost them In support of the Prime Minister’s crime and justice money. Keeping the universal credit uplift would go taskforce, we are funding an additional 30 prison work some of the way, although not all the way, towards coaches, bringing the total up to 200, to go into prisons mitigating this unfairness, so if the universal credit cut after covid restrictions are lifted with a focus on both goes ahead what is the Government’s proposed solution gaining employment and accessing benefits promptly, for these disabled people—or is this yet another area to remove excuses for prison leavers to return immediately where the Government actually plan to level down? to crime. 395 Oral Answers 17 MAY 2021 Oral Answers 396

Miriam Cates: Northern College in my constituency Will Quince: I thank the hon. Lady for her question, is a resident education college that gives disadvantaged and I know the passion with which she raises the issue. adults a second chance at adult education. Many students We have measures in place to tackle in-work poverty, are former prisoners, but thanks to the college’soutstanding and we intend to go further: whether it is our 13,500 tuition and pastoral support, they go on to achieve additional work coaches in Jobcentre Plus up and down educational success and secure well-paid employment. our country, kickstart or restart, or our £30 billion plan Sadly, the funding for such colleges is under threat, so for jobs, it will help tackle in-work poverty through will my right hon. Friend work with colleagues in the progression in work. In addition, we have the In-Work Department for Education to secure the future of Northern Progression Commission, which will report in the coming College and ensure that former prisoners continue to months on the barriers to progression for those in have access to this amazing opportunity to turn their persistent low pay and, importantly, set out a strategy lives around? for overcoming them.

Dr Coffey: I thank my hon. Friend for raising this important issue. I will absolutely share her concerns on Kerry McCarthy: I have lost count of the number of the specific college to which she refers, Northern College. times the Minister said all the evidence suggests that As I say, the Government are committed to helping work is the best route out of poverty. We agree, in that ex-offenders to re-establish themselves back into the the last Labour Government showed how it could be community and into work. As part of the Government done, but under this Government it is simply not true, is taskforce, though, I am very keen to help prisoners get it? As we have just heard from my hon. Friend the the right job skills while they are still in prison so they Member for South Shields (Mrs Lewell-Buck), 75% of can walk straight out of prison into the world of work. children living in poverty are in a family where at least However, the elements to which she refers will continue one parent is at work. Getting a low-paid and insecure to be important in ensuring that people stay in jobs and job is not a route out of poverty if parents cannot succeed in jobs. afford childcare and housing, and if their universal credit will be cut. What is the Government’s strategy for making sure that work does pay? In-work Poverty

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields) (Lab): What Will Quince: I thank the hon. Lady for her question, recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of but the statistics show that full-time work substantially in-work poverty. [900005] reduces the chance of poverty. The absolute poverty rate of a child where both parents work full time is Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab): What recent 3% compared with 47% where one or more parents are assessment she has made of trends in the level of in part-time work. That is why we are supporting people in-work poverty. [900006] into full-time work wherever possible, for example through our comprehensive childcare offer. As I said, we had a Tony Lloyd (Rochdale) (Lab): What recent assessment jobs miracle before the pandemic, and, through our she has made of trends in the level of in-work poverty. £30 billion plan for jobs and with the help of businesses [900009] up and down our country, we will again. Part of that is having a welfare system that encourages and incentivises Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Slough) (Lab): What work. With universal credit, that is exactly what we recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of have. in-work poverty. [900022] Tony Lloyd [V]: In my Rochdale constituency, no The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work ward has fewer than one in five children living in and Pensions (Will Quince): Analysis shows that prior poverty. Some wards have over half of all children to the pandemic, the poorest 20% of households saw living in poverty, and the bulk of those have parents their incomes increase by over 6% in 2019-20, even after who are working. That is a scandal. What is also a taking account of inflation. Since the pandemic hit, we scandal is that the Minister insists that work always have strengthened the welfare system, spending £7.4 billion pays and keeps people out of poverty. It does not. What on measures such as the universal credit uplift, on top can he say to my constituents to assure them that they of additional support such as the coronavirus job retention will be part of a genuine levelling-up process, with scheme and the self-employment income support scheme. money in their pockets and their children not living in Her Majesty’s Treasury analysis has shown that the poverty? Government’s unprecedented support package means that working working-age households in the bottom 10% of the income distribution have seen no income Will Quince: When the opportunity allows, I would reduction. be delighted to visit the hon. Gentleman’s constituency. I would say to him, however, that a child growing up in Mrs Lewell-Buck: I am not at all surprised that the a home where all the adults are working is around Minister’s answer bears little resemblance to the reality. five times less likely to be in poverty than a child in a Even pre-pandemic, 75% of children living in poverty household where nobody works. That is why our relentless lived in a household where at least one person worked. focus is on supporting and empowering people into A recent NHS England-funded report found that around work, and progressing in work. As I said, we have a 700 child deaths could be avoided each year by reducing benefits system with universal credit, unlike the system deprivation rates. Under this Government, work is no proposed by Labour, that incentivises and encourages longer a route out of poverty. Why is that? work—that is the key. 397 Oral Answers 17 MAY 2021 Oral Answers 398

Mr Dhesi: Over the years, Ministers have parroted the role to which the hon. Gentleman refers. Young the same lines over and over again on poverty, which is people are not compelled to apply for kickstart if they that work is the route out of it. Elements of the right-wing are already applying for other jobs as well as part of media have been trying to unscrupulously label hard- their conditionality, but I am sure that my hon. Friend working people as scroungers from the welfare state, yet the Minister will look further into the matter if the hon. the true legacy of a decade of Tory Government is that Gentleman provides the details. the number of households in poverty where at least one adult is working increased by almost 2 million people. Peter Aldous [V]: Suffolk’s gateway partnership has What are the Government going to do to rectify that been very successful in promoting and rolling out the unacceptable situation and ensure that hard-working kickstart scheme, but to ensure that this initiative realises Brits get a decent wage? its full potential in supporting young people into work, it needs to be extended well beyond the end of this year. Will Quince: I have been absolutely clear. The evidence I would be most grateful if my right hon. Friend and suggests that work is the best route out of poverty and Suffolk colleague confirmed whether she agrees with that is why, through our £30 billion plan for jobs, we that conclusion and whether she is making representations plan to make that happen. We increased the national to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor for funding to living wage and have taken millions of people out of be provided at the forthcoming comprehensive spending income tax all together. We continue to take action on review. the cost of living and the Secretary of State is looking at further measures we can take in that regard, such as, for Dr Coffey: I thank my hon. Friend and neighbour, example, our childcare offer. As I said, our plan for jobs and, indeed, I commend Suffolk’s gateway partnership will be game-changing and I hope the hon. Gentleman and have seen its success in my role as MP for Suffolk will get behind it. I will of course be very happy to meet Coastal. There are no current plans to extend the kickstart him and businesses in Slough to see how we can make it scheme. We want to focus on delivering jobs for young happen. people as soon as we can, and eligible young people will be able to start new kickstart jobs until the end of this Kickstart: Youth Unemployment year—December 2021. Like him, I am very keen to make sure that we fill the vacancies we have. We are starting to Matt Western (Warwick and Leamington) (Lab): If see our first graduates who are getting permanent roles she will make an assessment of the effect of the kickstart and we need to evaluate what the best route is for scheme on long term youth unemployment. [900007] beyond, in 2022.

Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con): What recent assessment Mr Speaker: I call Seema Malhotra, the shadow she has made of the effect of the kickstart scheme on Minister. levels of employment among young people. [900020] Seema Malhotra (Feltham and Heston) (Lab/Co-op): The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Dr Thérèse May I say that this is going to be my last DWP questions Coffey): Youth unemployment is down compared with in this role and thank the Minister for the constructive 2010, currently standing at 575,000 young people, and way that she has developed the relationship? I will be we have the second-highest youth employment rate in handing— the G7, second only to Canada. We are conscious of the scarring effects of long-term unemployment, which is Mr Speaker: This is disappointing news. why we developed kickstart as the flagship of our plan for jobs. Since its launch in September, over 200,000 Seema Malhotra: I am sorry, Mr Speaker, but I will jobs have been approved and over 20,000 young people be handing over to my hon. Friend the Member for have started their jobs. As our recovery continues, we Middlesbrough (Andy McDonald), on whose behalf I expect to see many more starts in the next few weeks ask this question. and months ahead. Last month’s data shows kickstart helping less than 4% of 16 to 24-year- olds who have lost their jobs over Matt Western [V]: I am afraid it is more damp squib the last year. The scheme is nowhere near matching the than kickstart. An IT support and services company in scale of the challenge and, even worse, the Department, my constituency started the much vaunted kickstart as has just been confirmed, still plans to end the scheme process on 15 September last year, with the expectation just as unemployment is set to peak. Employers speak that it could recruit after 30 days. Eight months on, it of delays of weeks for vacancies to be approved and still does not have anyone. Its conclusion: the scheme is then advertised. It is almost a year since the Chancellor pretty much a waste of everyone’s time and resources. announced kickstart. There is no excuse for long-term Put simply, does this explain the fact that for every unemployment becoming a legacy of the pandemic, so 25 young people who have lost their jobs over the past when are things going to change, and will the Secretary 12 months, kickstart has helped just one back into of State now urgently review the December kickstart work? end date in line with calls by Labour, the Confederation of British Industry and the Youth Employment Group, Dr Coffey: It is fair to say that 20,000 people now so that employers can also plan ahead? have a salary coming in every week that they did not have before. I am sure that the employment Minister—the Dr Coffey: First, I congratulate the hon. Lady on her Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my new role; I understand that she is moving into the hon. Friend the Member for Mid Sussex (Mims Davies)— shadow Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy team will be happy to look into the specific circumstances of and I am sure that she will be a huge success there, too. 399 Oral Answers 17 MAY 2021 Oral Answers 400

In terms of kickstart, in the last four weeks, we have who are nearing the end of their lives, and is working achieved, on average, 400 starts a day. This is in line across Government to bring forward proposals following with what we are seeing with the opening up of the the evaluation. I remain committed to implementing economy. Today, we are on the first element of step 3, the key areas identified as soon as possible. and we expect the starts under kickstart to get going. On the plan for jobs, we want to make sure that we Emma Hardy: I have a constituent with incurable properly evaluate all the measures to make sure that mantle cell lymphoma who does not meet the definition they achieve the ultimate goal of ensuring that as many of terminal illness. She has been refused the personal people as possible are in work by the end of this year. independence payment, she is one year off her state pension, and because she owns a property that her Kickstart: Thames Valley disabled son lives in, she cannot claim means-tested benefits. She is in a dire financial situation. How much Layla Moran (Oxford West and Abingdon) (LD): longer will she have to wait for the rules on terminal What recent estimate she has made of the number of (a) illness to be changed? successful and (b) total applications to the kickstart scheme in the Thames Valley region. [900008] Justin Tomlinson: I thank the hon. Member for highlighting this. I do not know all the details, but if she The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work is willing to share them, I would be very happy to look and Pensions (Mims Davies): I can confirm that, as of into that specific case. It highlights why we have carried 6 May, around 12,300 kickstart jobs had been made out this vital evaluation, supported by stakeholders. available for young people to apply for in the south-east The key three principles of improving awareness,consistency of England region, and around 2,300 young people had and scrapping the six-month rule remain a priority for already started in their new kickstart roles. Delivering our Department. the kickstart scheme at pace means that the DWP deal Employment: Young People is still developing the tools to further break down the data on a more local level. Mr Steve Baker (Wycombe) (Con): What recent steps her Department has taken to help young people into Layla Moran [V]: I thank the Minister for her answer. employment. [900012] I agree that helping young people to get into work through this crisis is of paramount importance, but I Karl McCartney (Lincoln) (Con): What recent steps was deeply concerned to hear, in a business roundtable her Department has taken to help young people into organised by our local enterprise partnership, that that employment. [900016] data is being gathered only at a regional level by the DWP. This means that the LEP and the councils cannot Sara Britcliffe (Hyndburn) (Con): What recent steps assess how well Oxfordshire is doing or measure the her Department has taken to help young people into efficiency of any interventions that we might put in employment. [900027] place to do even better. I thank her for her explanation, but can she give us any timeline on when we can have Robbie Moore (Keighley) (Con): What support her this data broken down to at least upper-tier council Department is providing to help young people into level? And can she meet me and officials so that we can employment. [900029] understand how to ensure that young people make the most of this scheme? Dr Ben Spencer (Runnymede and Weybridge) (Con): What recent steps her Department has taken to help Mims Davies: I thank the hon. Lady for raising the young people into employment. [900039] issue of getting young people into work. As we heard from the Secretary of State, approximately 400 young Sir David Evennett (Bexleyheath and Crayford) (Con): people, on average, have been going into work per day What recent steps her Department has taken to help for the past four weeks. I urge her to meet the Rose Hill young people into employment. [900042] youth hub, the newly launched DWP youth hub that covers her constituency and has been working with The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work Oxford Jobcentre Plus from April, as well as Aspire, and Pensions (Mims Davies): The new enhanced DWP Activate and Oxford City Council. That will give her youth offer has provided wraparound support for young the insight that she needs about what is happening on people since September 2020, delivering employment the ground. She can also meet the local youth employability and skills support and training through our youth work coaches. We are breaking down the data as far as employment programme, new youth hubs and additional we can, but our priority right now is to get young youth employability work coaches. We currently have people into those new roles. more than 110 new youth hubs operating digitally or physically, with at least one in every JCP district. We Special Rules for Terminal Illness will have more than 140 physical youth hubs delivering face-to-face support as the covid restrictions are lifted Emma Hardy (Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle) further. (Lab): When she plans to publish her Department’s review of the special rules for terminal illness. [900011] Mr Baker [V]: How is the Department encouraging businesses and other employers to sign up to these The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work schemes so that we can create those vital jobs for (Justin Tomlinson): The Department is committed to 16 to 24-year-olds who might otherwise be long-term delivering an improved benefits system for claimants unemployed? 401 Oral Answers 17 MAY 2021 Oral Answers 402

Mims Davies: We are doing it non-stop, as my hon. Robbie Moore: Across Keighley and Ilkley, businesses Friend will be pleased to know.The DWP Lords Minister care passionately about giving young people the skills —my noble Friend Baroness Stedman-Scott—and I they need for a successful career, and these include regularly attend stakeholder and outreach events to Byworth Boilers, an excellent business that offers promote kickstart to employers. Last week, I spoke to apprenticeships to help local residents to take their first more than 90 employers at an event partnering with step on the career ladder. The desire from local businesses MyKindaFuture, a mentoring platform. The team in is there, but they often need Government help to turn my hon. Friend’s local jobcentre are working with local this into a reality, so will my hon. Friend confirm how employers to support those most at risk of long-term her Department is helping to give companies such as unemployment through the new opportunities they need. Byworth Boilers the chance to deliver for young people? I am pleased to share with my hon. Friend that they recently helped a young man who was struggling with Mims Davies: I am more than happy to support attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to find a new Byworth Boilers and all the local employers, and to kickstart job as a green keeper. extend my thanks to the businesses in my hon. Friend’s constituency and up and down the land that are putting forward opportunities to work with young people. I Karl McCartney [V]: I have recently received know that my hon. Friend works closely with the team correspondence from the learning and skills lead for at the Keighley jobcentre, who are in touch with many automotive engineering at Lincoln College in my local employers including the Spoons Tearoom, Ideabean constituency, which is shortly due to hold Autoinform Software Technology and Superdrug, who are working 14-19, a practical taster event that aims to allow young together with the DWP to help to create new opportunities people to spend time in workshops with local employers and progression for local jobseekers. and industry specialists looking at electric cars, acoustic vehicle alerting systems, diagnostic methods and the Dr Spencer [V]: I thank my hon. Friend for her response. MOT test. One difficulty is securing schools’ buy-in Young people have been disproportionately affected by with the scheme. How does my hon. Friend believe the the pandemic, given the high rates of unemployment in Government can support organisations such as Lincoln hospitality. Today I visited one of our local hotels, the College to ensure that we help as many young people Hilton Cobham, which has now fully reopened and is into employment as possible? looking forward to welcoming the guests who enjoy Runnymede and Weybridge’s local attractions such as Mims Davies: The DWP’s partnerships on the ground Thorpe Park, the Brooklands Museum and, of course, with local labour markets are key to these new employment the birthplace of Magna Carta. Will my hon. Friend opportunities. I am pleased that Lincoln JCP is working join me in welcoming the next step in lifting the restrictions in partnership with the Network, a charity that aims to and invite people to visit and stay in Runnymede and prevent young people from becoming NEET—not in Weybridge, to go to our fantastic pubs and restaurants education, employment or training—and engages with to eat, drink and be merry and to support—[Inaudible.]— and connects to wider support. Customers will also economy and jobs? benefit from a key partnership locally with the DWP, Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce and the Lincoln Mims Davies: I think I got the point; we all love a bit College Group, which have created many new opportunities of Thorpe Park. I join my hon. Friend in welcoming the for our young people within the new kickstart scheme. wider return of hospitality in the travel and hotel sectors. This will be a vital boost to our economy and local jobs. Sara Britcliffe: The Government have brought in some In my hon. Friend’s jobcentre, we have new kickstart brilliant measures to get young people into employment roles advertised in various hospitality areas including and I witnessed that at first hand on a visit to NORI golf at Foxhills Country Club and Resort, sports and HR. We are also hosting an education summit locally, leisure through the RunThrough events team and social and I welcome the support from our local training media opportunities with Little Olive Consulting, as providers such as North Lancs Training Group, but can well as vital local roles with Woking Borough Council the Minister set out what measures are in place to help and Surrey County Council. jobcentres and training providers to work together so Sir David Evennett [V]: I appreciate all that my hon. that people are fully aware of all the opportunities Friend is doing to help young people, many of whom available to them? will bounce back into work quickly and easily, but what dedicated support is available to help those who face Mims Davies: I thank my hon. Friend for raising that more complex barriers to employment? point, and I thank NORI HR for all its work. All MPs in this Chamber should take the opportunity to work Mims Davies: My right hon. Friend is right. That with their local Jobcentre Plus team to support and is why we have our new youth hubs with work coaches promote kickstart. Locally, the DWP is working with dedicated to youth employability to support young employers such as NORI HR and also the Accrington people with complex needs. They are able to remove Stanley community trust, which Members might have barriers and support young people into employment seen on “Football Focus” recently. The first cohort of and, crucially, to continue that support for the next six employees started in March this year in a variety of weeks after they have moved into work. In my right kickstart roles including admin, sports coaching, youth hon. Friend’s area, the jobcentres are running crucial work, site maintenance and leisure attendants. We are sector-based work academy programmes in social care, also working in partnership with the Hyndburn DWP construction and security,as well as offering new kickstart youth hub to support our young people to be ready for roles to young people and working with the London these new kickstart roles. Borough of Bexley, which is also a vital kickstart gateway. 403 Oral Answers 17 MAY 2021 Oral Answers 404

Support for Families Living in Poverty Marion Fellows: The Trussell Trust reports that 62% of the working-age population referred to food banks were Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): What disabled, yet the Tories’ decision to deny people on new steps she plans to take to support families living in legacy benefits the same £20 uplift as those on universal poverty. [900013] credit, which will be challenged in the High Court, continues to exclude 2 million disabled people, despite The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work the extra costs they have faced during the pandemic. and Pensions (Will Quince): This Government have Will the UK Government finally provide the support been clear that supporting people back into work and that disabled people need, or will they continue trying empowering them to progress in their role is the best to force people on to UC? approach to tackling poverty. Evidence shows that households where all the adults work are six times less Will Quince: It is the policy of the Department not to likely to be in absolute poverty than households where comment on live litigation, so I will not comment on nobody works. To help to fulfil our commitment to get that aspect. I gently point out to the hon. Lady that we people back into work, we are investing over £30 billion spend more than £57 billion a year on benefits to through—you guessed it, Mr Speaker—our ambitious support disabled people. [Interruption.] My hon. Friend plan for jobs, which is already delivering for people the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work right across our country. reminds me that that is an extra £4 billion in real terms. That is support for people with disabilities and health Mr Sheerman [V]: Are this Government determined conditions, and this is about 2.6% of our GDP. to be known as the most heartless Government since the end of the last world war? If these Ministers look at VickyFoxcroft(Lewisham,Deptford)(Lab)[V]:Ministers this morning’s report from Save the Children, they will have been asked many times about the lack of uplift to see that 4 million children in our country are in poverty, legacy benefits, and every response has been woeful. The going to bed at night with no food in their tummy. What Government are now being taken to court to correct are the Government going to do about that? It is a this discrimination. Do Ministers not see that they are disgraceful state of affairs, and it is particularly hitting discriminating against millions of disabled people on the north of England and people in the towns of West these benefits? This needs to be sorted. Does the Minister Yorkshire. Is it not about time we secured good, well-paid agree that it should not take a judicial review to tackle jobs and affordable childcare for these people, and this injustice? tackled the problem, which has got worse and worse since 2010? Will Quince: I have a lot of time for the shadow Minister, but however many times she asks the same Will Quince: I am disappointed in that question, and question she is going to get the same response. The I certainly do not recognise the picture painted by the Government have focused support on UC and working hon. Gentleman. This Government have stepped up to tax credit claimants because they are more likely to be support people facing financial disruption throughout affected by the sudden economic shock of covid-19 this pandemic, pouring billions of pounds more into than other legacy benefit claimants. I am not going to our welfare system to support those facing the most comment on the live litigation, but I would say that financial disruption. Those were short-term, temporary legacy claimants can make a new UC claim and benefit measures—we know that—to support people during from the £20 a week increase; the Government encourage the pandemic. I hope he will agree that it is right that anybody to go on gov.uk and use one of the independent our focus should shift to supporting people back into benefit calculators to check carefully their eligibility work and to progress into work, because we know that before they apply. the evidence suggests that work is the best route of Topical Questions poverty. We will achieve this with our £30 billion plan for jobs. [900060] Wendy Chamberlain (North East Fife) (LD): Covid-19: Support for People on Legacy Benefits If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities. Marion Fellows (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP): What steps her Department is taking to support people The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Dr Thérèse on legacy benefits during the covid-19 outbreak. Coffey): The nation is today uniting to toast an important [900014] milestone in the Prime Minister’s road map to recovery, with the long-awaited full reopening of the hospitality The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work sector—thank God for that, given the rain we are and Pensions (Will Quince): We have introduced a suffering. The British public have stood up to the challenge substantial package of temporary welfare measures to of the pandemic and, while still being cautious, we need support those on low incomes throughout the pandemic. to get out there and spend our dosh. Let’s do our bit to We have paid out more than £100 billion in welfare support our communities, businesses and jobs, including support for people of working age this year and have more than 1 million workers who were furloughed and consistently supported the lowest-paid families by increasing whom I hope we will now see back at work. As hospitality the living wage. This includes an investment of almost booms, I am sure that many more new kickstarters will £1 billion into the local housing allowance rates, benefiting be out there, able to hit the ground running. housing benefit and universal credit claimants alike. In addition, we have made sure that benefits retained their Wendy Chamberlain [V]: Before the introduction of value against prices by raising benefits by a further universal credit, single parents under the age of 25 received £100 million from April 2021 in line with the consumer a higher rate of benefit payment in recognition of the prices index. increased costs of raising a child as a single parent, 405 Oral Answers 17 MAY 2021 Oral Answers 406 but that support has sadly not been extended to young concern for many constituents of mine across Keighley single parents who are in receipt of universal credit. and Ilkley. With COP26 now less than six months away, Does the Secretary of State agree with me and the will my hon. Friend update the House on the progress assessment of One Parent Families Scotland that the the Government are making to ensure that pensions omission amounts to a “young parent penalty”? play their part in tackling climate change so that we can build back greener from the pandemic? Dr Coffey: No; we took a sensible approach in having a differential rate for universal credit. Of course, if any The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work of the hon. Lady’s constituents would like support to and Pensions (Guy Opperman): We are the first G7 secure extra income via the child’s other parent, the country to legislate for net zero and lead the world in Child Maintenance Service is there to help parents in sustainable environmental investment, with the Task such situations. Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures and more, all of which address climate change. It was a [900062] Giles Watling (Clacton) (Con) [V]: Wehave heard pleasure to visit Airedale Springs, which is a great a lot about youth unemployment this afternoon. The company that is doing good business but with due House of Commons Library tells me that it has increased regard to climate change. That is our approach to UK by 10%, with a 110% increase in the number of young pensions as we build back greener. people claiming unemployment benefits. Those statistics are concerning, especially for the Clacton constituency, Matt Rodda (Reading East) (Lab): Some 200,000 women where historically we have struggled with youth who worked hard and paid their taxes all their lives have unemployment. We must get these young people back been underpaid their state pensions. It is an absolute to work. The new lifetime skills guarantee will help, but scandal. I welcome the announcement that the DWP is what discussions has the Secretary of State had with the trying to repay the money owed to these women, who Treasury about the introduction of national insurance have been so badly let down, but the repayments are contribution relief for employers who hire young people, being made far too slowly. Will the Minister confirm as we have done for those that hire veterans? If discussions how many repayments were made last month and when have not taken place, will they soon? the Department will finally speed up the process?

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work Guy Opperman: It is good to see that the hon. Gentleman and Pensions (Mims Davies): I have regular discussions survived the deputy leadership reshuffle. with a range of Ministers across the Government about how best to get young people into work and thriving. The simple point is that the DWP formally commenced We are already incentivising employers to hire young correction activity on 11 January this year,and I published people through the kickstart scheme, through which we a written ministerial statement on 4 February this year. pay wages and the associated national insurance We are clearing up a mess, the responsibility for much contributions for six months. It is a job creation scheme of which goes back to the changes made under the for the young people who are most at risk of long-term Labour Government in 2008, as the hon. Gentleman unemployment, building vital experience throughout will be aware. Where underpayments are identified, the the pandemic and giving them the confidence and skills Department will contact the individual to inform them needed to thrive in their future workplace. of the changes to their state pension amount and of any arrears payments that they will receive in accordance David Linden (Glasgow East) (SNP): The kickstart with the law. scheme was launched with much fanfare but it has been a bit of a flop, not to mention a headache for many [900065] PeterAldous(Waveney)(Con)[V]:Myconstituent businesses such as METERology in my constituency, MartinBurnellislivingwithmotorneuronedisease,which which has been given a total runaround by the Secretary is a progressive terminal illness for which there is no of State’s Department. Recent figures suggest that if the effectivetreatmentorcure.Earlierthisyear,hewastoldto UK Government maintain a rate of 400 new employees reapply for his benefits or risk having them stopped. Will starting each day, they should hit their target of 250,000 myhon.Friendcommittoremovingtheburdensomeand new jobs in 625 days—that is two years—so what more unacceptable requirement under the special rules that are they going to do to ensure that kickstart can really people with a terminal illness have to reapply for their live up to its hype rather than just be a slogan for the benefitsafterthreeyears? Chancellor’s naff hoodie? The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work Dr Coffey: The hon. Gentleman is being ungracious. (Justin Tomlinson): As part of the Green Paper, we will We are still at step 3 of the road map to recovery. Dare I be going further than the special rules for terminal say that the Scottish Government are putting up a illness evaluation to look at the principles of extending roadblock to recovery by pursuing the whole independence the severe health condition criteria to remove unnecessary agenda when they should be focused on the economic assessments and reviews. recovery? If the hon. Gentleman has specific constituency matters to raise, he is welcome to do so. As we go [900061] Emma Hardy (Kingston upon Hull West and through the steps, we will see even more kickstarters Hessle) (Lab) [V]: Youth unemployment is rising and taking full advantage of the generous support, which one route out of this is through apprenticeships. One of will help them and employers alike. the problems with apprenticeships can be apprenticeship pay, often described as apprenticeship poverty, where it [900063] Robbie Moore (Keighley) (Con): As the Pensions costs more to attend work than the young apprentices Minister knows from when we visited Airedale Springs earn. What is the Minister doing across Departments to together last September, climate change is a major address that injustice? 407 Oral Answers 17 MAY 2021 Oral Answers 408

Mims Davies: I thank the hon. Lady for pointing out [900067] Alison Thewliss (Glasgow Central) (SNP) [V]: the great opportunities of apprenticeships. The kickstart Govanhill Housing Association has told me that, each scheme can lead to such an opportunity, and we will be time there is a rent increase, some tenants inadvertently explaining to young people the opportunities that exist go into arrears as they do not realise that they have to through our youth hubs. On supporting people, we have notify the DWP. Will Ministers make a common-sense our flexible support fund for people to get into work change to this bureaucracy to allow housing providers and to thrive in work. Our in-work progression report to report any rent increases directly for all their tenants will be reporting soon and we will look at it closely to rather than as a fallback? see whether it covers any of these matters. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work [900070] Chris Green (Bolton West) (Con): As society and Pensions (Will Quince): I have explored this issue, leaves lockdown restrictions and recovery accelerates, which is a little bit more complicated than the hon. will my right hon. Friend confirm that universal credit Lady makes out. We have been working with housing is designed not only for people who are unemployed, associations. I would be very happy to sit down with her but to support people into work and to continue to and have a briefing on the matter with officials. support them while they are in employment? [900074] Duncan Baker (North Norfolk) (Con) [V]: I welcome the DWP’s commitment to delivering an Dr Coffey: My hon. Friend is right. The design of improved welfare system for people with a terminal universal credit means that people will always be better illness, and I hope that it can be delivered very soon. off working than not working. It is important that Can my hon. Friend confirm that the proposals to people take advantage of extra hours that they may be change the special rules will not be included in the offered in order to get that benefit, and we will continue upcoming Green Paper, which would result in further to help people get into that type of job. delay and would be unnecessary, as the DWP has already consulted stakeholders? [900066] Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) (Lab): According to research by the Resolution Foundation, Justin Tomlinson: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. we are facing a U-shaped unemployment crisis, which The SRTI—special rules for terminal illness—evaluation will hit the youngest and the eldest workers the hardest. has been completed and will not need to be rerun For women who are already being forced to work through the forthcoming Green Paper. beyond their expected retirement age, this only adds to their financial hardship and many fear that they will [900069] Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab) never find work again. Do the Government have any [V]: Will the Minister recommend that his colleagues plans to help, or will they continue to let down these purchase and read the recently released e-book, “The hard-working women, many of whom started in the Brown Envelope Book”, which contains more than 200 labour market when they were just 15 or 16 years old? poems, pieces of prose and short plays about disabled people who say they have been Mims Davies: Older workers can get help from their “brutalised by the bureaucracy of the Department for Work and work coach if they need further qualifications or modern Pensions”? certifications. The DWP works with the Government’s business champion for older workers, providing outreach Justin Tomlinson: The Government are rightly proud and advice for employers. We encourage all employers of providing record amounts of support for people with to reap the many benefits of recruiting workers who can disabilities and long-term health conditions. Through bring a wealth of skills and experience to any workplace. our forthcoming health and disability Green Paper, we I advise people to head to the JobHelp website, to look will work with stakeholders and those with real lived at the Department for Education’s digital toolkit, or to experience to make sure that we improve the services speak to their work coach about any support so that and support we provide. they can perhaps have the best part of their career in the [900075] Robert Largan (High Peak) (Con): Tomorrow, final years of their career. I will be hosting a workshop between local disability support groups and the DWP in my constituency to [900073] Jacob Young (Redcar) (Con): This Government discuss the Green Paper. Ahead of that meeting, will are focused on getting more people into work through the Minister update the House on what steps are being an ambitious plan for jobs. However, last week I was taken to increase access to benefits and support for the contacted by a constituent in Redcar and Cleveland most vulnerable people during the pandemic? who is a qualified primary teaching assistant looking for work. She told me that, every time she declares her Justin Tomlinson: I thank my hon. Friend for being so autism and epilepsy, employers sadly decide not to proactive, along with about 50 other MPs who have pursue her applications further. What more can the already agreed to host health and disability Green Paper Government do to encourage employers to give differently events to look at the key themes of advocacy, getting abled people such as my constituent the equal opportunity supportive evidence, the assessment process and the of work? appeals process. It is the Government’s absolute priority to support those with disabilities and long-term health Justin Tomlinson: My hon. Friend highlights a vital issue, conditions. which is why we have developed a disability confident toolkit with stakeholders to provide comprehensive [900072] Daniel Zeichner (Cambridge) (Lab): I have a information and guidance for employers on autism and constituent who, after having her jab recently, had a nasty hidden impairments.I hope that his constituent’sundoubted reaction and could not go to work the following day. talents will be unlocked shortly. She then found that she had lost 10 hours’ pay—half 409 Oral Answers 17 MAY 2021 Oral Answers 410 her week’s wages. That is the world of precarious work, skills into other opportunities for the short or the and it certainly does not encourage people to have a jab, longer term. I am pleased that many of them are so what can the Government do to rectify the situation? working locally, vaccinating—

Justin Tomlinson: I thank the hon. Member for raising Mr Speaker: Order. Let us go to Geraint Davies. that point. We have been improving guidance and sharing best practice with employers. We have also made changes [900076] Geraint Davies (Swansea West) (Lab/Co-op) to statutory sick pay for those who are either self-isolating [V]: Every day, 7.6 million people go without sufficient or sick to remove the four-day wait. It is disappointing nutritious food, according to the Environment, Food to hear how that specific employer has treated their and Rural Affairs Committee, so will the Secretary of hard-working employee. State look carefully at the Welsh Government’s pilot for a universal basic income, and will she provide an [900079] Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con) [V]: What estimate for the cost of a UK roll-out of a universal support is the Department for Work and Pensions basic income? providing to those who have unfortunately been made unemployed in aviation communities, which have of Dr Coffey: Ah, my favourite question on UBI. The course been particularly negatively impacted by the answer is no. If the Welsh Government wish to use the covid-19 pandemic? extra money they receive through the Barnett formula to undertake other aspects, the question is whether it is Mims Davies: My hon. Friend knows the pain of the within their legal powers to do so. I am conscious that impact on the aviation sector, as do I in my nearby we all want to make sure that food insecurity comes to constituency. The DWP has a range of support for an end, and that is why we are working across Government individuals who have been employed in this sector and to tackle it. are affected. The DWP rapid response service provides key help and advice for employers and their employees Mr Speaker: I will now suspend the House to enable if they are facing redundancy. Our work coaches provide the necessary arrangements to be made for the next claimants with individual personalised support, utilising business. our plan for jobs, which includes SWAP—the sector-based work academy programme—for those currently displaced by the impact on the aviation sector. That can help to 3.34 pm build confidence and transfer their very wide-ranging Sitting suspended. 411 17 MAY 2021 Antisemitic Attacks 412

Antisemitic Attacks their feet. They will shortly be named and shamed if they fail to act. All Members of Parliament, bar one, 3.38 pm have signed up to it. We are also doing our utmost to keep the Jewish Mr Speaker: Before I call the Secretary of State to community safe through the £65 million protective security respond to the urgent question, I have a short statement grant to protect Jewish schools,synagogues and community to make. I know that all Members will be deeply concerned buildings. We are working closely with the Community by the footage of apparently antisemitic behaviour that Security Trust to ensure victims can come forward and appeared online yesterday. I understand that a number report attacks to the police. of individuals have been arrested in relation to the incident, but that no charges have yet been made.Therefore, Werecognise that education is one of the most powerful the House’s sub judice resolution is not yet formally tools we have for tackling antisemitism. We are proud engaged. However, I remind all Members to exercise to back the work of the Holocaust Educational Trust caution and avoid referring to the details of specific and the Anne Frank Trust, among others, to ensure that cases in order to avoid saying anything that might we challenge prejudice from an early age. With the last compromise any ongoing investigation or subsequent holocaust survivors leaving us, we are also ensuring that prosecution. future generations never forget where hatred can lead through—I hope—a new world-class holocaust memorial I call the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and learning centre next to the Palace of Westminster. and Local Government, who has three minutes to answer It is currently awaiting the outcome of a planning the urgent question from Robert Halfon. inquiry. Some of the opposition to it has only served to make the case for why it is needed. 3.39 pm Today, the Government and, I hope, the whole House Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con) (Urgent Question): To send a clear message of support and reassurance to our ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Jewish friends and neighbours. We seek a society where she will make a statement on recent antisemitic attacks the UK’s largest established religions can live safely and across the UK. freely, and can prosper, as an essential part of a nation that is confident in its diversity but ultimately strong in The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and its unity. Local Government (Robert Jenrick): No one could fail to be appalled by the disgraceful scenes of antisemitic Mr Speaker: I am very disappointed. I said at the abuse directed at members of the Jewish community in beginning that the Secretary of State had three minutes, the past week. In Chigwell, Rabbi Rafi Goodwin was and he went on to take four minutes. Unfortunately, I hospitalised after being attacked outside his synagogue. do not make the rules of the House, but I have to stick In London, activists drove through Golders Green and to them. Wenow go to Robert Halfon, who is participating Finchley, both areas with large Jewish populations, virtually, with two minutes. apparently shouting antisemitic abuse through a megaphone. These are intimidatory, racist and extremely serious crimes. The police have since made four arrests Robert Halfon [V]: In a 2018 House of Commons for racially aggravated public order offences and have debate on antisemitism, I said the air had grown tighter placed extra patrols in the St John’s Wood and Golders for Jews: Green areas. “you feel very hot, you undo a button on your shirt and your mouth During Shavuot, as always, we stand with our Jewish goes dry.”—[Official Report, 17 April 2018; Vol. 639, c. 262.] friends and neighbours, who have sadly been subjected Sadly, after yesterday’s horrific incidents, highlighted by to a deeply disturbing upsurge in antisemitism in recent my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State—particularly years, particularly on social media. Like all forms of the rabbi being beaten up in Chigwell in Essex—I fear racism, antisemitism has no place in our society. A lot that the air has become even tighter. I thank my right hon. of young British Jews are discovering for the first time Friend the Member for Epping Forest (Dame Eleanor that their friends do not understand antisemitism, cannot Laing) for her strong support against antisemitism. recognise it and do not care that they are spreading it. Since 2018, the Community Security Trust has recorded British Jews are not responsible for the actions of a the highest ever number of antisemitic incidents—more Government thousands of miles away, but are made to than 1,800 in 2019. In Harlow just a few days ago, feel as if they are. They see their friends post social swastikas were graffitied on walls in a public walkway. media content that glorifies Hamas—an illegal terrorist Thankfully, they have now been removed. Why, in the organisation, whose charter calls for every Jew in the 21st century, must Jewish schools and synagogues have world to be killed. Today,the world celebrates International guards outside? The growth of antisemitism has happened Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. for a number of reasons. There are too many of what Under Hamas, people are murdered for being gay. Vladimir Lenin called “useful idiots”, whether they are Every time the virus of antisemitism re-enters our some Labour party activists, condemned by the Equality society, it masks itself as social justice, selling itself as and Human Rights Commission, and those who use the speaking truth to power. This Government are taking conflict in Israel as an excuse; the BBC’s Jeremy Bowen robust action to root it out. We are leading the way as telling Jews to read negative articles about Jews; or the the first Government to adopt the International Holocaust NUS giving moral equivalence to antisemitism and Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism and what it calls the liberation of Palestine. I remind the calling on others to do the same. As a result, nearly House that the so-called liberation is being conducted three quarters of local councils have adopted it. I have by Iranian-funded extreme Islamist terrorist groups written to councils and universities that are still dragging Hamas and Hezbollah. 413 Antisemitic Attacks 17 MAY 2021 Antisemitic Attacks 414

What protections and support are being given specifically I understand that four men have been arrested, but I to Jews and to the Community Security Trust? What are ask the Secretary of State whether anyone else is being the Government doing to educate pupils about antisemitism sought. What more can be done, particularly in intelligence so that this evil is wiped out? Will there be severe gathering, to prevent this kind of incident from happening penalties for those found guilty of antisemitic behaviours? again? What additional support is being given to places As a proud British Jewish MP, I never imagined that I of worship and other key sites at this worrying time? would live at a time when I and the Jewish community Does the Secretary of State agree that, in response to would question whether Britain is a safe place for Jews those who seek to stoke division and hatred, we must any more. stand united and send a message that they will never win? Robert Jenrick: I thank my right hon. Friend for his remarks today and his long record of supporting the Robert Jenrick: I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman British Jewish community and fighting antisemitism. for his strong words today, which will have been heard We must ensure that this is a country where our Jewish by Jewish communities across the country. The whole of friends and neighbours feel safe, and I am sure that the the House of Commons is united in this regard. He is whole House will send a strong message today of support also right to say that whatever one’s views are on the and reassurance to them. current conflict in Israel and Gaza, that is no excuse whatsoever for the kind of antisemitic abuse or, indeed, The Government will continue to support the anti-Muslim hatred that we are seeing on our streets Community Security Trust—I join my right hon. Friend right now. Tell MAMA, which reports the number of in praising its work. Partly funded by the Government anti-Muslim incidents, has also informed us that there and partly by philanthropy, it helps to ensure the security has been a rise in incidents directed against the Muslim of 650 Jewish communal buildings and 1,000 events community in recent days. Both are unacceptable, and every year. It has reported to us a steep rise this week in both need to be tackled. antisemitic incidents—a 320% increase in a week. I am The right hon. Gentleman is right to say that the afraid that that is likely to rise further as there is always police should be taking a lead, and we expect the police a delay in reporting. We will continue to support the to be urgently investigating the issues that we have seen trust and we will work with the Metropolitan police and in recent days. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary police forces in other parts of the country, who are has spoken with the commissioner of the Metropolitan putting out extra patrols in the coming days to provide police, who has given assurances that the police will do reassurance to Jewish citizens. everything they can to find the perpetrators and bring We will also support groups across the country, for them to justice. Further patrols are now happening in example, the Union of Jewish Students, which does so areas with larger Jewish communities in London, for much good work for Jews on campuses across the UK example, and I know that other police forces in other who suffer antisemitic attacks and abuse. We will keep parts of the country, such as Greater Manchester, are on with that work as well as the educational work to taking the same proactive approach. As I said in my which my right hon. Friend referred. In my opening opening remarks, the police have since made four arrests remarks, I paid tribute to a number of the fantastic for racially aggravated public order offences, and have organisations, such as the Holocaust Memorial Trust, placed extra patrols in the St John’s Wood and Golders which deliver that day in, day out, and have continued Green areas. to do so even during the difficulties that covid-19 posed. With respect to the incident regarding the rabbi in Chigwell, Essex police have announced that they are Nick Thomas-Symonds (Torfaen) (Lab): I commend investigating the incident as a religiously aggravated the right hon. Member for Harlow (Robert Halfon) for assault, and have appealed for witnesses.They are engaging securing the urgent question. What we saw and heard in with the affected communities equally to provide the footage from the streets of London yesterday was reassurance, and I call on anyone who may have been a vile antisemitism and sickening, threatening mysogyny. witness to either of those events or, indeed, others Those who engage in that appalling, terrible behaviour across the country to come forward as soon as possible. should feel the full force of the law. Andrew Percy (Brigg and Goole) (Con): Thank you, Time and again, we have seen these attacks aimed at Mr Speaker, for the concern you have shown the British the Jewish community. The Community Security Trust, Jewish community today by granting this urgent question which I also commend for its work, recorded 63 antisemitic so soon. The fact that people feel emboldened to drive incidents from 8 to 16 May. We send a clear, unequivocal through Jewish neighbourhoods calling for the rape of message that that is not acceptable—not then, not now, women, or to march through the streets of London not ever. I have been moved by the Jewish community’s warning Jews that an army is coming against them, does sharing testimonies at the weekend. I have contacted not happen in isolation. It happens because antisemitism the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Community on campuses is ignored; because university lecturers who Security Trust to make clear the absolute condemnation target Jewish students are not dealt with; because far-right on these Benches for those terrible acts. holocaust denial content on online platforms is not There is too often a completely unacceptable pattern: dealt with; and because some people, some campaigners distressing scenes in the middle east—we on these Benches —including, perhaps,some in this place—place an emphasis have called for a ceasefire—can lead to a minority of on Israel and use emotive language that they do not use people attempting to whip up hatred between communities. in relation to other conflicts, while giving Hamas, the There is often an upsurge in Islamophobic attacks, too. terror tunnels and the murder weapons a free pass. That Those who do that do not in any sense represent those is why it happens: it does not happen in isolation, and who seek to bring about peace in the middle east. enough is enough. 415 Antisemitic Attacks 17 MAY 2021 Antisemitic Attacks 416

[Andrew Percy] but my question is: what lessons have been learned about this? Some might say that all of this was predictable I thank the Secretary of State for what he has said as soon as it was known that the march was going to today, but I urge him to go even further. It is great that happen. What lessons have been learned, and what new we are putting so much money into holocaust education, practices are the police going to put in place to make but we have to go further in ensuring that every child in sure that this sort of thing cannot happen again? this country is taught about antisemitism, as they should be taught about Islamophobia and all racism. Robert Jenrick: I, for one, never thought that I would see banners being held aloft on the streets of London, Robert Jenrick: I completely agree with my hon. Friend. apparently with impunity, saying, “Death to Jews”, or It is crucial that we ensure that young people uphold the individuals being able to drive for some time through values of this country and understand antisemitism. neighbourhoods, broadcasting the kind of antisemitic That is one of the reasons why we were the first country bile that we saw over the weekend. That is disgraceful. It in the world to sign up to the International Holocaust is wrong and we need to ensure that our police services Remembrance Alliance definition, which makes it are equipped to take action quickly and robustly when abundantly clear that anti-Zionism is antisemitism. It is this happens again in the future. My right hon. Friend one of the reasons why we fund the Holocaust Educational the Home Secretary will speak again to her counterparts Trust, and why we have now expended its remit from so that they can ensure that where such instances arise going into schools to going into universities as well. We in the future, action is taken as fast as possible, as we also fund a range of other organisations. would expect with regard to any other racist or intimidatory It is also important to underline the point that my incident. hon. Friend made: Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organisation, and those considering its activities or Dame Margaret Hodge (Barking) (Lab) [V]: May I reporting upon them should make very clear the kind of thank you, Mr Speaker, and the right hon. Member for organisation it is and the relationship that the UK has Harlow (Robert Halfon) for securing this urgent question? with it, which is that we do not engage with a terrorist Like others, seeing racist posters, swastikas, a rabbi organisation. attacked and a racist convoy going through north London, I could see that the message was one of hate and, often, Stuart C. McDonald (Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and misogyny. This House is sending out a very strong Kirkintilloch East) (SNP) [V]: I, too, thank the right message today denouncing this vile racism. But our hon. Member for Harlow (Robert Halfon) for having message cannot just be for today. Tragically, the Israeli- secured this urgent question, which offers us an opportunity Palestinian conflict will not go away, and we must be to unite in unequivocal opposition to, and condemnation able to debate and disagree without Jew hate or of, antisemitism. There is never any excuse or justification Islamophobia taking over. What action is the Secretary for it, and hatred expressed here helps absolutely nobody, of State taking beyond today, and beyond the brilliant anywhere. The events that have already been described work that the Holocaust Educational Trust is doing were absolutely horrendous—vile, targeted antisemitism with young people, to inform and educate communities and misogyny—and our solidarity goes out to the Jewish throughout Britain, including elected representatives, communities directly targeted and to everyone across so that a discussion on an international conflict does the country who has suffered such hatred. We support not morph into a national expression of hate? all steps to bring the perpetrators to justice and all initiatives to tackle antisemitism. Robert Jenrick: I thank the right hon. Lady for her remarks and, of course, for her own record of standing Finally, can I suggest that we also take this opportunity up to antisemitism in the past. She is right to say that to condemn all forms of racism and religious hatred, this is, sadly, just one of a number of incidents, and past whether it is antisemitism, Islamophobia, or the atrocious incidents of this nature have flared up at the same time anti-Catholic bigotry witnessed this weekend during as conflict in the middle east. In 2014, for example, there disgraceful disorder by Rangers fans in Glasgow city was a significant spike in antisemitic incidents. Many centre? It has absolutely no place, and there is absolutely members of the Jewish community are fearful that we no excuse for it. I am sure that Members across the will see a similar situation now. Indeed, some have said House will agree that we all have a duty to call it out to me that there is greater intensity today than there was and condemn it. back then, perhaps fuelled by the rise of social media. Robert Jenrick: I thank the hon. Gentleman for those We need to ensure that we are rooting out antisemitism remarks. Like him, this Government have zero tolerance and doing so through education, working with all parts for all forms of racism, including antisemitism. We of society. That is one of the reasons that the Prime must do everything we can to ensure that where individuals Minister and I have appointed Sara Khan as our do perpetrate these crimes, they are brought to justice. independent adviser, who will tackle extremism of any kind and ensure that it cannot exist with impunity in Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con) [V]: I have been plain sight. All parts of Government and civil society heartened by some of the comments made so far. However, must play their part in that—not just central Government it was frightening and horrible over the weekend to and local authorities, but charities, schools and faith watch videos of people hurling abuse from cars; to hear groups the length and breadth of the country. about the rabbi who was badly beaten up; and to see pictures from the Arndale centre of yobs—from Bradford, Sir David Amess (Southend West) (Con) [V]: I very I am told—intimidating shoppers and shouting antisemitic much agree with the remarks made by my right hon. remarks. And it is dreadful that it is happening in this Friend the Member for Harlow (Robert Halfon). Many country.Of course, all racism, whether it be antisemitism, Jewish people in Southend were appalled at the disgusting Islamophobia or anti-Catholicism, must be condemned, scenes in north London over the weekend. I stand with 417 Antisemitic Attacks 17 MAY 2021 Antisemitic Attacks 418 them, and I am frankly bemused at how those events Robert Jenrick: My hon. Friend raises a number of were allowed to happen in the first place. Does my right important points. It is not simply an issue of the large hon. Friend agree that it is more important than ever international providers; there are smaller ones as well. that the Government continue to support the work of They all need to be subject to the regulatory regime that the Community Security Trust, which does such vital we are devising and will legislate for in the online harms work to keep the Jewish community safe through the Bill. We are taking action as we speak, and the Culture protective security grant? I know that money is tight, Secretary, the Home Secretary and I are working with but will he ensure that sufficient funding is made available those providers to ensure that harmful antisemitic content to the trust, to enable the Jewish community to worship is seen, identified and removed as quickly as possible. safely and peacefully? Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD): On behalf of the Liberal Robert Jenrick: The Community Security Trust has Democrats, I would like to add our unequivocal an absolutely essential role in supporting Jewish institutions condemnation of all forms of racism and hate speech, such as schools, nurseries and places of worship—frankly, including the appalling antisemitic abuse recorded on places that should not need to have security. As the the streets of London. The Secretary of State has father of Jewish children, it shocks me every time I take already agreed that we must all actively condemn and my children to synagogue or to their nursery to see confront all forms of inflammatory rhetoric by those individuals in stab-proof vests guarding the entrance to with public platforms. Can he expand on how he sees those places. That should not have to happen in this the work of Government encouraging us here and the country, but it does happen today, and we will continue public at large to get to a place where we can stop such to support the Community Security Trust, giving it all appalling racial abuse and misogynistic hate crimes? the funding it needs to protect Jewish communities. Robert Jenrick: We are taking a number of actions in Yvette Cooper (Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford) my Department, and we work with organisations right (Lab): The whole House will stand in solidarity with Jewish across society, including faith organisations, to ensure people across the country in the face of vile antisemitism, that those perpetrating abuse and discriminatory behaviour misogynistic hate speech, violence and incitement. No of this kind are brought to justice. We want to ensure one should be in any doubt that attempting to blame Jewish that we have a tolerant society. We are proud of the communities for the actions of the Israeli Government diversity in this country, but we also want a united is appalling antisemitism and is wrong. The Secretary of country in which all people feel comfortable and safe. State will know that the kinds of incident we saw over That is why we are taking the actions that we are taking, the weekend are also being fuelled by online antisemitism and why we are working with our hate crime action and extremism, and he will have seen the recent CST group and a number of organisations all over the UK to report on Google and antisemitic imagery. What more raise awareness and to stamp out this kind of abusive is he doing to tackle this awful online antisemitism? behaviour where we find it. Robert Jenrick: The right hon. Lady raises an extremely important point. The Home Secretary and the Culture Christian Wakeford (Bury South) (Con): Today, Jewish Secretary are working closely on this issue. They are in people in my constituency and around the world will be contact with the providers to ensure that antisemitic gathering to mark the festival of Shavuot, and I wish and other hate speech is taken down quickly and that them all a good and a safe Yom Tov. As the Member action is taken against the perpetrators. Of course, this with the largest Jewish community outside London, I is an issue that we will return to and debate when have been contacted by constituents scared to take their considering the online harms Bill, which I hope will children to shul, due to the appalling scenes of antisemitism play a role. My Department is also funding organisations on the streets of the UK over the weekend. Does my that are taking action to put a counter-narrative on right hon. Friend agree with me that the Jewish community social media, to educate people about the harm that is cannot be targeted due to the situation in the middle caused by antisemitism and to ensure that people of all east, and will he reassure the community in Bury South backgrounds—particularly young people—understand and across the country that the police will deal with all that some of the memes and graphics that are being instances of antisemitism with the utmost severity? circulated as we speak are deeply antisemitic and deeply offensive to communities and are fuelling the kind of Robert Jenrick: I hope I can provide the reassurance hatred that boiled on to the streets over the weekend. that police forces across the country, including in Greater Manchester, are taking action to ensure that there are Simon Fell (Barrow and Furness) (Con): We have patrols and, where there are incidents, that they are seen vile physical and verbal assaults against Jews in the investigated and individuals are brought to justice, where real world, but there is also a deep well of antisemitic necessary. I was very concerned to see the intimidating content online and on social media, as the right hon. scenes at the Arndale centre in Manchester, and I would Member for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford not want to see those repeated. We want to provide (Yvette Cooper) said, which often goes unchallenged. protection to my hon. Friend’s constituents, and that is Does my right hon. Friend agree that these clearly exactly what we will do. antisemitic messages cannot be allowed to continue? Memes are allowed to socialise and water down some of Liz Saville Roberts (Dwyfor Meirionnydd) (PC) [V]: the horrific content online. Can he outline what action Plaid Cymru has a long tradition of promoting peace the Government will take against not just mainstream over conflict and of standing alongside oppressed people. social media companies but smaller ones such as BitChute This includes calling for the human right of people in and Telegram, where some of the worst content is Palestine and Israel to be able to live in peace. The shared? language we use in politics matters, and everyone seeking 419 Antisemitic Attacks 17 MAY 2021 Antisemitic Attacks 420

[Liz Saville Roberts] Robert Jenrick: I thank the hon. Lady, and wish her chag sameach as well. We are working with a number of peace knows that words used irresponsibly can be twisted different groups that help bridge the divide and ensure into weapons. This week, Jews in the UK have suffered that there is greater understanding among different hate speech, threats and acts of violence both on the groups in society. There are many such groups, including streets and over social media. Does the Secretary of Solutions Not Sides, and Streetwise with its Stand Up! State agree that the online harms Bill provides an programme. They are important, but we want other opportunity to protect not only individuals, but groups parts of civil society to step up too. The report that Sara of people from hate speech that incites such violence? Khan produced earlier in the year for the Prime Minister was significant, saying that there is more work to be Robert Jenrick: I think that the online harms Bill done by schools, local councils and civil society outlined in the Queen’s Speech will be an important organisations to take their responsibilities seriously now weapon in our arsenal, enabling us to take action against in rooting out extremism and encouraging a better the virus of antisemitism and other forms of hate understanding between different parts of society. That speech where they occur online. That is absolutely critical; work needs to be done swiftly, and Sara Khan is now we find it in many other aspects of our life. That is one part of my Department, independently advising myself of the reasons we pursued the IHRA definition, and and the Prime Minister on how we can take that work have urged institutions to sign up to it, such as councils, forward. universities and, of course, Members of this House. There is more work to be done there, and a particular Aaron Bell (Newcastle-under-Lyme) (Con): I thank focus for this Government will now be in universities. you, Mr Speaker, for granting this urgent question. Many have not signed up to that definition, and many Like many Members, I saw the scenes in north London have done so but not yet put it into practice. We need to unfolding on social media and obviously was completely see urgent change there. appalled. While those events were unfolding the Metropolitan police tweeted: Steve Double (St Austell and Newquay) (Con) [V]: I “Officers are in the area and are engaging with those taking welcome and indeed echo the words of the Home part.” Secretary at the weekend in urging the police to take the I do not wish to condemn the Metropolitan police for strongest possible action against those responsible for one misjudged tweet in the heat of the moment, but these horrific and totally unacceptable incidents of does my right hon. Friend agree that that tweet misses antisemitism. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that the mark entirely and does not take what happened his Department will work closely with the Home Office yesterday sufficiently seriously? I welcome the arrests to ensure that all those responsible will be held to that have taken place, but does he agree with me and the account and face justice as soon as possible? Home Secretary that we need to see the strongest possible action against all those who took part in yesterday’s Robert Jenrick: Antisemitic crimes, like all those with disgraceful scenes? regard to racism, are serious crimes, and we expect Robert Jenrick: Yes, I do. I am grateful for the work police forces investigating these issues to do so rigorously, of the Metropolitan police, Essex Police and other robustly and swiftly, and for action to be taken against police forces across the country in recent days and the the individuals if they are found to require prosecution. work they will be doing right now providing reassurance My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is working to Jewish communities, but my hon. Friend is right that with the Metropolitan police, and has received assurances the correct response to an incident like this is not merely from them that they will be doing everything they can engagement; the Jewish community, like all of us in to bring these individuals to justice. society, wants to see action against the perpetrators of those offences. That is now happening: individuals have Charlotte Nichols (Warrington North) (Lab) [V]: Last been arrested and those crimes are being investigated. night, Jewish communities across the country began our celebrations for the festival of Shavuot, and I wish Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (SNP) all of those marking it a chag sameach. The scenes of [V]: I think we can all agree with the Centre for Holocaust antisemitic and misogynistic abuse yesterday have been Education on the importance of education in tackling incredibly disturbing and have caused significant alarm antisemitism. However, given that a recent survey found and distress, coming off the back of a rise in hate crime that only 37% of young people know what the term incidents both online and in physical attacks on and “antisemitism” means, what more can the right hon. desecrations of our places of worship. I have been Gentleman do to ensure adequate funding is made heartened by unequivocal condemnations from across available for education programmes so that future society, including by the Muslim Council of Britain and generations are aware of the history and causes of the Palestinian ambassador in the UK, as they recognise antisemitism? that all forms of racism and oppression reinforce one another, that they cannot be fought in isolation from Robert Jenrick: We have only to look on social media each other and that we all have more in common than today to see that a very large number of our fellow that which divides us. What support, therefore, will the citizens do not understand what antisemitism is, or else Secretary of State provide to interfaith initiatives such they would not be liking and sharing some of the as the Warrington Ethnic Communities Association memes and graphics, which are antisemitic and deeply and the Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester offensive and are helping to fan the flames of the kinds to help us build solidarity and co-operation across our of incidents we have seen in recent days. The Government communities, where a minority of extremists seek to are taking action in a number of respects, through the divide us? Holocaust Educational Trust, which the hon. Gentleman 421 Antisemitic Attacks 17 MAY 2021 Antisemitic Attacks 422 rightly praises, and the Antisemitism Policy Trust, which Zionism, which ensures that British Jews are physically is doing work online, and through other works with the and verbally attacked for actions that occur in Israel for Holocaust education centre which we hope will be built which they have no cause or control. In a comment near the Palace of Westminster and holocaust museums echoed by my right hon. Friend the Member for Harlow across the country, such as the Beth Shalom museum in (Robert Halfon), one constituent told me that many north Nottinghamshire, so that we can raise awareness people are asking the same question as before the 2019 of these issues and help to debunk some of the myths. election; namely, is there a future for Jewish people in this country? Can the Secretary of State please advise John Howell (Henley) (Con): The antisemitism of the my constituents if there is? weekend has been inflamed by allegations originating with perhaps easily disproved campaigns concerning Robert Jenrick: Yes, there certainly is. As the father of the al-Aqsa mosque, despite the fact that hundreds of three young Jewish girls, I am absolutely committed to thousands of Muslims worship there during Ramadan ensuring that the British Jewish community feel protected, and Eid. My right hon. Friend has described a lot of feel safe and feel that they can continue to thrive in this what he is going to do, but what more can he do to stop country.They are our longest-established religious minority. antisemitic mistruths being used to drive a wedge between They have added so much to this country over the communities here in the UK? generations, and I hope that they will do so for many, many generations to come. Robert Jenrick: That is an extremely important point. As I have said, there is work to be done online and in Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP) [V]: I thank the our schools, and there is also work we can do through Minister for his statement. I am unashamedly a friend the creation of new museums and educational institutions of Israel, and I condemn the antisemitic attacks in such as the memorial that we hope will be built. There is London over the weekend and welcome the police response also work for all of us just as citizens of this country, to that the Secretary of State referred to. However, does he call out antisemitism wherever we find it and see it, and not agree that headlines such as “Israel launches airstrikes ensure that there is no immunity—there is no safe space on Gaza Strip after Hamas rocket attacks” may prevent for it in the way that I am afraid many people feel there readers from understanding that Israel launched rockets is today. in defence and not first? Does he agree that no resolution will be found if the media continue to stir tension with Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Slough) (Lab): biased reporting? Further, will he confirm once more, to Antisemitism, and any other form of racism, is utterly make it very clear, that Israel has a right to defend abhorrent and must be swiftly dealt with. Many of us herself, and that while we may ask Israel to enter into are strong advocates for the Palestinian people, to stop peace talks, we will never disregard her right to defend them being evicted from their homes and to demand an herself against any attack? immediate end to the current bloodshed, but for racists who parade as allies of Palestine to use this tragedy to Robert Jenrick: Let me be perfectly clear: the UK fuel antisemitism and misogyny is utterly condemnable. Government believe that Israel has a right to self-defence. Is the Secretary of State concerned about the possibility The UK Government believe that that must be exercised of far-right organisations using this to stir further proportionately and with due regard to civilians. We community tensions? If so, what steps will the Government will ensure, as far as we can, that both sides engage. If take to address it? there is any route now to bring this to a peaceful resolution, it must be sought, and we are doing that at Robert Jenrick: As I said earlier, when we have seen the United Nations and in every forum that is available conflicts arise or intensify in the middle east in the past, to us. But we will also condemn any form of antisemitism that has led to an upsurge in hate crimes against both that we see in this country. Jewish citizens are citizens of members of the Jewish community and members of the the United Kingdom. They are not in any way responsible Muslim community. We saw that in 2014. I hope that we for the actions of the Israeli Government, whether good are not witnessing a similar situation today, although I or bad. They are citizens of the United Kingdom; they think many would say that we are. We need to take deserve our complete support, and they have it today. concerted action now. That is why it is important that, with your support, Mr Speaker, we are having this Tulip Siddiq (Hampstead and Kilburn) (Lab) [V]: debate; that the police provide the reassurance that they Yesterday,racists drove past the amazing Jewish community are on the streets of our cities in the places where there centre JW3 on Finchley Road in my constituency shouting are Jewish communities; and that where there are incidents antisemitic hate speech. I am very proud to represent an against members of the Jewish community or the Muslim area with a sizeable Jewish community and several community, action is taken very swiftly and in the synagogues, but my Jewish constituents are now feeling strongest possible terms. unsafe in their own homes. Will the Secretary of State commit to ensuring that these hate crimes are punished, Dr Matthew Offord (Hendon) (Con) [V]: Having the and will he provide additional resources to protect second largest number of Jewish constituents in the community centres like JW3, Jewish schools and country, I know that yesterday’s events caused great synagogues? concern to many. The Community Security Trust told me this morning that it had recorded 63 confirmed Robert Jenrick: I thank the hon. Lady for her work. I cases of antisemitism over the weekend, with more appreciate that yesterday’s events played out partly in cases expected. Most shockingly, that included a Jewish her constituency, and partly in the constituencies of the teacher being abused by pupils in the classroom. In the hon. Member for Westminster North (Ms Buck) and protests, we saw conflation of Jewish identity with my hon. Friend the Member for Finchley and Golders 423 Antisemitic Attacks 17 MAY 2021 424

[Robert Jenrick] Covid-19 Update Green (Mike Freer), who would, I am sure, be speaking on behalf of his constituents today if he were able to. 4.26 pm We must now ensure that residents of all those parts The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care of London, and indeed elsewhere in the country, have (Matt Hancock): With permission, Mr Speaker, I would the reassuring presence of police on the streets, and like to make a statement on coronavirus. Since January the knowledge that should these events arise again the last year, and especially since 8 December, when the police will be there to support them and to take action world’s first clinically authorised coronavirus vaccine against the perpetrators. We will continue to provide was given in Coventry Hospital, we have been engaged—all support to the Community Security Trust and other of us—in a race between the virus and the vaccine. As a good organisations that help to protect community nation, we have taken some huge strides forward and we centres, synagogues, schools and nurseries as far as we can make careful further progress today, and we must possibly can, and money is no object in that regard. remain vigilant. Members of the Jewish community have our complete support in the months and weeks to come. I can report to the House that there are now fewer than 1,000 people in hospital in the United Kingdom Ms Karen Buck (Westminster North) (Lab): I am with coronavirus, and the average number of daily glad that Westminster North is home to a large Jewish deaths is now nine. This progress means we are able to community.It is also home to the largest Arab community take step 3 in our road map today, carefully easing some in Britain. Many people, across party, work very hard to of the restrictions that we have all endured. People have ensure community cohesion. That work was undermined missed the things that make life worth living, businesses desperately by the events yesterday: the spewing of vile have endured hardship and everybody has made sacrifices. misogyny and antisemitism by the convoy that drove While we can take this step today, we must be humble in through Westminster North, among other areas. The the face of this virus. We have all learned over the past police have acted swiftly with arrests and reassurance year that, in a pandemic, we must look not just at where patrols, but can the Secretary of State reassure me that we are today, but where the evidence shows we may be that support will continue over the long term, not just in weeks and months down the track. The vaccination over the coming days and weeks? Also, will he urgently programme can give us confidence, but we must be alert review the capacity we have in local government and to new variants that could jeopardise the advances that our civic institutions to build on the work of community we have made. cohesion and education, so we can ensure that nothing Today, I would like to update the House on the work as vile as the events we saw this weekend will ever we are doing to tackle variants of concern—in particular, happen again? variant B1617.2, which is the variant of concern first identified in India—so that we can protect the progress Robert Jenrick: The hon. Lady is right to say that in that we have worked so hard to achieve. There are now London, as in many other parts of the country, relations 2,323 confirmed cases of B1617.2 in the UK; 483 of between the Jewish community and the Muslim community these cases have been seen in Bolton and Blackburn are generally good, and inter-faith dialogue is generally with Darwen, where it is now the dominant strain. strong. We have seen that very prominently in recent Cases there have doubled in the last week and are rising months, for example, in tackling covid-19, where both in all age groups. In Blackburn, hospitalisations are religious communities have come forward, been incredibly stable, with eight people currently in hospital with supportive and have worked together. I have seen that covid. In Bolton, 19 people are now in hospital with myself on many occasions. She is also right to say coronavirus, the majority of whom are eligible for a that councils have an important part to play. I have vaccine but have not yet had one. That shows that the asked Sara Khan, as part of her work, to provide new variant is not tending to penetrate into older vaccinated recommendations to us on how we can provide better groups, and underlines again the importance of getting advice to local councils on how to spot and tackle the jab—especially, but not only, among the vulnerable extremism; which groups they should not be interfacing age groups. with; and, where they do find extremists in their In Bolton and Blackburn, we have taken the approach communities, what action they can take to root it out. that worked in south London against the South African Extremists should not be able to operate with impunity variant. We have surged in our rapid response team: in plain sight in any part of this country. 100 people so far, who visited approximately 35,000 people this weekend to distribute and collect tests. We Mr Speaker: I am now suspending the House for two have installed six new testing units, brought in more minutes to enable necessary arrangements to be made than 50 new vaccinators and set up two new vaccination for the next business. centres, as well as extending opening hours and capacity at our existing sites. In Bolton, we have quadrupled the 4.23 pm rate of vaccination. We carried out 6,200 vaccinations Sitting suspended. over this weekend, and it is brilliant to see so many people from the most vulnerable groups coming forward to get the protection, whether it is their first or second jab. All in all, this is the biggest surge of resources into any specific local area that we have seen during the pandemic so far. It has been co-ordinated by Dr Jenny Harries, the chief executive of the new UK Health Security Agency, drawing on all the health capabilities, locally and nationally, 425 Covid-19 Update 17 MAY 2021 Covid-19 Update 426 that we have built in the past year. I thank everyone who provides. I am delighted to say that, as of today, people is working so hard to make it happen, including everyone can demonstrate whether they have had their jab, quickly at the two local authorities; the rapid response team; all and simply, through the NHS app. the volunteers, including those from St John Ambulance; Since January, we have been following a dosing interval and, most importantly,the people of Bolton and Blackburn of 12 weeks for second doses. Because of the extra for the community spirit that they are showing. protection people get from the second dose, particularly It has been really heartening, as I am sure the whole among those most likely to end up in hospital or dying, House will agree, to see the videos published over the it is incredibly important that everyone comes forward weekend of people queuing up to get the jab. I say to for that second dose at the right moment. The approach anyone who feels hesitant about getting the vaccine, not we have taken aims to give the most vulnerable the just in Bolton or Blackburn, but right across the country: strongest possible protection against this virus. Since just look at what is happening at the Royal Bolton January, that has meant getting the first dose to as many Hospital. The majority of people in hospital with people as possible, as quickly as possible. The research coronavirus were eligible for the jab but had chosen not shows that this approach has saved about 12,000 lives. yet to have it, and have ended up in hospital—some of Now, it is important to accelerate the second doses them in intensive care. Vaccines save lives. They protect for all those most vulnerable to ending up in hospital or you, they protect your loved ones and they will help us dying. Our vaccination strategy for all parts of the UK, all get out of this pandemic. including the areas of surge vaccination, will therefore stick by the clinical advice set out by the Joint Committee This is not just about Bolton and Blackburn. There on Vaccination and Immunisation: first, prioritise anyone are now 86 local authority areas where there are five or over 50 who has not yet been vaccinated; next, second more confirmed cases. The next biggest case of concern doses to those over 50 are vital—that will now be done is Bedford, where we are surging testing. I urge everybody on a schedule of eight weeks; and, then, follow the in Bedford to exercise caution and engage in testing cohorts in priority order, and the age groups as we open where it is available. them. This clinically approved approach is the best way I also want to tell the House the latest scientific to save the most lives, rather than jumping ahead with assessment of this variant. The early evidence suggests first doses for younger people. Although the JCVI of that B1617.2 is more transmissible than the previously course keeps this under constant review, we are clear dominant B1117 variant. We do not yet know to what that its advice is the best way to protect those most in extent it is more transmissible. While we do not have the need of protection and so save as many lives as we can. complete picture of the impact of the vaccine, the early The NHS will be reiterating this advice to all vaccination laboratory data from Oxford University corroborates centres and all directors of public health, and I am very the provisional evidence from the Royal Bolton Hospital grateful to everyone, in the NHS, local authorities and and the initial observational data from India that vaccines in the whole system supporting this vaccination programme, are effective against the variant. This, of course, is for following it. reassuring, but the higher transmission poses a real risk. Today’s opening and step 3 marks an important step on our road to our recovery. We must proceed with All this supports our overriding strategy, which is caution and care, and bear down on the virus, in whatever gradually and cautiously to replace the restrictions on form it attacks us, so that in this race between the freedom with the protections from the vaccines. The vaccine and the virus, our humanity,science, and ingenuity data suggests that the vaccine has already saved more will prevail. I commend this statement to the House. than 12,000 lives and prevented more than 33,000 people from being hospitalised, and we are protecting people at 4.37 pm a very rapid pace. Last week was the biggest week of vaccinations since the end of March. Some 36 million Jonathan Ashworth (Leicester South) (Lab/Co-op): I people have now had a first dose, and yesterday we thank the Secretary of State for advance sight of his reached the milestone of 20 million people across the statement. May I start by congratulating the Leicester UK having had their second dose. City football team on winning the FA cup on Saturday? The winning goal from Tielemans was one of dreams. I am delighted to see the figures released by YouGov Leicester City fans boast that Foxes never give up and today,which show that the UK has the highest vaccination nor do I, so let me turn to the matters before us. enthusiasm in the world, with 90% of people saying that they have had or will have the jab. This was no accident. Yesterday,the Secretary of State warned on the television We began planning the campaign for vaccine uptake a that the B.1617.2 variant could “spread like wildfire” year ago. I thank the huge range of people involved among the unvaccinated, but does he accept that we in promoting the benefits of vaccination, from Her could have avoided this? Our borders have been about Majesty the Queen to Sir Elton John, Harry Redknapp, as secure as a sieve, and the delay in adding India to the Lenny Henry, Holly Willoughby, Lydia West and many, red list surely now stands as a catastrophic mis-step. many others. Our campaign has been based on positivity One month ago in this House, I urged him to act quickly and science, and I am grateful to everybody who has in response to this variant. The Wellcome Sanger Institute played their part. data today shows a rapid increase in this variant, to 30% of all sequenced cases in the UK, and that excludes I can confirm that from tomorrow we will be inviting cases from travel and surge testing. Alarm bells should people aged 37 to come forward, before expanding this be ringing, because although the Secretary of State offers further later in the week. It has been brilliant to see people’s reassurance that vaccines are effective, we have also enthusiasm when they have been invited to come forward, heard Professor Anthony Harnden of the JCVI recently and we want to make it as easy as possible for them to warn us that vaccines are “almost certainly less effective” show that they have had the protection the vaccine at reducing the transmission of this variant. 427 Covid-19 Update 17 MAY 2021 Covid-19 Update 428

[Jonathan Ashworth] At this critical time,when we need to work internationally to defeat this virus, why are we the only G7 nation I entirely appreciate that when questioned I suspect cutting its aid budget? How can the Secretary of State that the Secretary of State will not be able to give a defend cutting our contribution to vital science and cast-iron assurance about opening up on 21 June, and I research projects? Given the total silence from the am not going to try to push him into a corner; we all Government on President Biden’ssupport for the temporary understand that we are dealing with uncertainties and lifting of patent protections to increase vaccine production, we have to be grown up about these things. But we do should we assume that the Government do not agree need a plan now to contain this variant urgently. He is with President Biden? said to be considering local lockdowns. As he knows, I speak as a resident of long locked-down Leicester. Before Matt Hancock: Let me address the hon. Gentleman’s he takes out his mallet to try to whack moles again, may substantive questions. The first was about the surging I suggest a number of things for him to try first? of vaccines and testing into hotspots. We saw in south First, will he consider surge vaccination in all hotspot London earlier in the month and last month that that areas and go hell for leather to roll out vaccinations to sort of surge testing can work. We had an outbreak of everyone? I listened very carefully to what he said about the South African variant in south London. We put in vaccination increases in Bolton, and I hope that also more than 200,000 tests, and we effectively managed to includes Blackburn. Is he saying that everyone over contain that outbreak. That is the approach that we are 18 in those areas will now be eligible for vaccination? As taking in Bolton and Blackburn, and we will also take he knows, that is something that public health directors that approach if we see a further spread in other areas on the ground have been calling for, and I hope we listen of the country. We have been working very hard on that to them. to ensure we have that capacity and can do that effectively. We have had these debates in the House before, and We do that, of course, hand in glove with the local the Secretary of State knows that even if we drive up authorities in question, which know the communities vaccination as high as it can possibly go among adults, on the ground. there are still about 20% of the wider population—children We are also making sure we have the vaccines available, —who remain unvaccinated, which means the virus can but I want to be absolutely crystal clear about the approach still spread. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to vaccination. The hon. Gentleman asked about in the US are moving to vaccinate children. Will he vaccinating all over-18s in Bolton and Blackburn, but update us on what progress he is making on that front that is not our approach. I have looked into it in great here? On children, the Secretary of State knows that in detail, and we have taken clinical advice. The approach many secondary schools, mask wearing is no longer is to make sure that we get done as many second necessary. Will he assure us that he thinks that is the vaccinations as possible, as many first vaccinations as right response in the light of the data he unveiled today? possible among the vulnerable groups, and then as many vaccinations as possible among those aged under Secondly, the Secretary of State has announced extra 50 in the eligible groups. We have taken that approach surge testing, but he knows by now that surge testing must because that is what is likely to save most lives. That be backed up by proper sick pay and decent isolation second jab is vital. The first jab for anybody over support. That should have been fixed in the Queen’s 50 could mean the difference between life and death. Speech last week. The very strong focus is to get the vaccine to all those Thirdly, more venues are opening up today. Many over 50 who have not yet taken the first jab. I am glad to will be spending a lot of time disinfecting surfaces, like say that reports from both Bolton and Blackburn suggest we do in here, which is good and important, but we that uptake among people who are eligible, but who know so much more about this virus now. We know have not yet taken the jab, has increased since we saw about airborne spread of the virus, so why are we not the rise of the B1617.2 variant in those areas. It is supporting venues more with ventilation? What are we effective in proving to people that the jab really does doing to help supermarkets, shopping centres and larger work to protect them. That is what the data shows. venues where air circulates around the building to put in The hon. Gentleman asked about children. I have place covid-secure air filtration systems? been closely following the results of the clinical studies Fourthly, what the Secretary of State said about the from Pfizer that show that the vaccine is safe and NHS and the uptake of beds is welcome, but NHS staff, effective among children between the ages of 12 and 18. as he knows, are exhausted and fear another surge. We have procured enough Pfizer to be able to offer that What modelling has been shared with NHS leaders, and jab to children should that be clinically approved here, what are they doing to prepare for any surge in admissions? but given that we are at the stage of opening tomorrow Finally, the surge in this variant reminds us that we to people aged 37, there is some time to go before we get are not safe until everyone is safe. That is not a slogan; it to 18-year-olds. We are on track to meet the target of is a fact. Some 3.3 million lives have been lost globally offering the vaccine to all those aged 18 and above by to this virus, and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus the end of July, so we have a couple of months before from the World Health Organisation warns that we are we need to make and operationalise a decision. We on track for the second year of this pandemic to be far want to be very, very careful and sensitive about whether more deadly than the first. Only 0.3% of vaccine supply and how we offer the vaccine to children. is going to low-income countries. Trickle-down vaccination The hon. Gentleman asked about important wider is not an effective strategy for fighting this deadly virus. measures. He mentioned ventilation. We have put in Not only do we have a moral responsibility to play our place guidance for businesses in terms of strengthening part internationally, but that also reduces the risk of the rules around ventilation, and that, too, is important. new variants bouncing back at us and setting us back. He did a bit of a Captain Hindsight act on the Indian 429 Covid-19 Update 17 MAY 2021 Covid-19 Update 430 variant. He did not seem to mention that we put India Dr Philippa Whitford (Central Ayrshire) (SNP) [V]: on the red list before this variant was even deemed a Covid cases in India began to soar at the start of April, variant under investigation, let alone a variant of concern. so why were Pakistan and Bangladesh added to the red Indeed, we put India on the red list before countries list at that time but not India? Was it because of the such as Germany and Canada stopped flights from Prime Minister’s planned trade visit? After India was India. We have a strong policy of restrictions at the finally added to the red list on 19 April, the restrictions border and we will remain vigilant. did not take effect until 23 April. How many people The final point to which I wanted to respond was on arrived from India in those days, trying to escape having the global moral responsibility to vaccinate everybody to go into hotel quarantine? When I previously raised in the world. The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right the issue of applying hotel quarantine to all travellers, that we have a global moral responsibility. I argue that, the Secretary of State claimed that the current system thus far, the United Kingdom has done, and will continue was protecting the UK; does he now accept that the to do, more than any other nation. It is about not just entry and community spread of the Indian variant the huge sums that we have put into COVAX, but the shows that that simply is not the case and that having a way that we delivered the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine negative test does not rule out the possibility that travellers around the world. As of this morning, 1.47 billion are carrying covid? vaccines have been delivered globally, 400 million of The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies has which have been the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. stated that evidence shows that the B1617.2 Indian AstraZeneca has charged a profit margin and a margin variant is up to 50% more infectious than the Kent for intellectual property of zero—no charge for intellectual variant and has advised that, as in Scotland, areas with property, no profit for AstraZeneca. Costs, of course, rising numbers of cases should remain under covid need to be met, but we have taken nothing for the restrictions. The Indian variant has been doubling every money that we put into the vaccine’s development. This week despite lockdown, so why is the Secretary of State is the biggest gift that this country could give to the ignoring SAGE advice and opening up areas like Bolton world. A total of 65% of those 400 million doses have that have exponential growth? been delivered into the arms of people in low and Thankfully,the Indian variant does not show significant middle-income countries, including more than 150 million vaccine resistance, but the Secretary of State must know in India. On the COVAX facility, which is the biggest that it is not possible to outrun the virus through global effort to vaccinate in low and middle-income vaccination alone. As those aged up to 35 are not countries, it has delivered 54 million vaccines so far, eligible for surge vaccination, that leaves a large pool of 53 million of which have been done with the Oxford- unvaccinated people among whom the variant can spread. AstraZeneca vaccine. It will take two to three weeks before even those who This country can be hugely proud of the contribution receive a vaccine in the coming weeks are protected. it has made. It is far bigger so far than that of any other Does the Secretary of State not accept that the variant country. We took the view from the start that we do not is in danger of surging and that without local travel need to change our IP rules, we do not need to change restrictions it will spread to other areas? It is good news the law, we just need to get on and get the vaccine out to that fully vaccinated people are not ending up in hospital, as many people around the world as possible, at cost. but just letting the virus spread among young adults Everybody in this House should be very, very proud of could allow the evolution of yet another UK variant. what AstraZeneca and Oxford University have done with the support of the UK Government. That is how we save lives around the world. Matt Hancock: I answered those questions in response to the right hon. Member for Leicester South (Jonathan Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey) (Con): Many of Ashworth). The truth is that when we put Pakistan and the new variants come from abroad, so clarity on borders Bangladesh on the red list, positivity among those policy is essential. We now know that the first wave was arriving from those countries was three times higher largely seeded by people coming back from their spring than it was among those arriving from India. That is holiday break in Italy, France and Spain, so will my why we took those decisions and, of course, they were right hon. Friend provide absolute clarity on the amber taken before the Indian variant became a variant under list? Should my constituents in Farnham, Godalming investigation, let alone a variant of concern. It is striking and Haslemere—indeed, all our constituents—go on that the Scottish Government took the decision to put holiday to countries on the amber list even when it is no India on the red list at the same time as we in the UK longer illegal? Government did. It is all very well to ask questions with hindsight, but we have to base decisions and policy on Matt Hancock: The answer is no. The official the evidence at the time. Government advice is very clear that people should not When it comes to how we are tackling the virus in the travel to amber or red-list countries or territories. People UK, the hon. Lady is quite right that it is good news—albeit should not travel to amber-list countries for a holiday. early news—that the vaccines do appear to be effective What is on the amber, red and green lists is kept under against the B1617.2 variant. I am obviously pleased about review, based on the data assessed by the Joint Biosecurity the evidence we have seen but we are vigilant about that. Centre. Our priority is protecting the progress we have I am glad that the approach we are now taking in made at home. We will assess whether any new countries Bolton and Blackburn worked against the South African might go on to the green list every three weeks and, of variant in south London. We always keep these things course, we constantly monitor to check that the countries under review, but I think that as a first resort, surge on the green list remain safe. If a country is not on the testing, going door to door, ensuring that we find and green list, people should not travel there unless they seek out the virus wherever we can spot it, and putting have an exceptional reason. in the extra resources with the armed services who are 431 Covid-19 Update 17 MAY 2021 Covid-19 Update 432

[Matt Hancock] and boy, if there is one lesson we have learned from this whole thing, it is that we cannot just not care about supporting us, are the right approaches while we keep where manufacturing happens. Having it onshore really, this under review. The numbers thus far nationally are really matters, for resilience but also to ensure that it is still relatively low and, thankfully, we have a very good close to the NHS so that the whole supply chain can surveillance operation across the UK so that we can learn and constantly improve. I am delighted that we spot these things early and take the action that we are pushing forward with the VMIC project in the same need to. way that we have brought onshore manufacturing supply in Teesside, in Livingston in Scotland and in the fill-and- Greg Clark (Tunbridge Wells) (Con): Does my right finish plants at Wockhardt in Wrexham, at Barnard hon. Friend agree with Sir Patrick Vallance, who told Castle and elsewhere. It is a big project and, frankly, a my Committee that new variants will arise all the time big opportunity for life sciences in the UK to ensure and that border restrictions will only slow, not prevent, that we can do all this onshore, because in my view, the those variants that originate overseas? What level of pandemic has shown that we need to. vaccination protection do we need to get to in this country before my right hon. Friend is in a position to Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP) [V]: I thank the rescind the rather strange advice that he has just given Secretary of State for his statement and for his to my right hon. Friend the Member for South West comprehensive answers. I know that he has regular Surrey (Jeremy Hunt) and allow people who have been discussions with the Northern Ireland Assembly Health tested three times and quarantined for 10 days to travel Minister, Robin Swann. There has been a surge in the to places such as France and Spain? Indian variant in Donegal in the Republic of Ireland Matt Hancock: Typically my right hon. Friend asks and in the maiden city of Londonderry in Northern the most pertinent question, to which we do not know Ireland. Can the Northern Ireland Assembly Health the answer. The level of vaccination that we need in Minister call upon the UK for expertise from Westminster order to withstand the incursion of new variants, even to assist us, which I believe will show once again that we those that the vaccine will work against, depends on are always better together with the United Kingdom of their level of transmissibility, and we do not know the Great Britain and Northern Ireland? increased level of transmissibility over and above that of B117, the previous main variant here in the UK, Matt Hancock: I could not agree more with the hon. which was first discovered in Kent. This is an absolutely Gentleman. The UK fights this together. There are critical question, but unfortunately we do not know the outbreaks also in Moray and in Glasgow, and I have answer to it yet. been talking to the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Health Munira Wilson (Twickenham) (LD): Having reached about the action that is going on to tackle the outbreaks this tremendous milestone today, and given the sacrifices there. I talk frequently with Robin Swann, who is doing that the British people have made through lockdown an absolutely brilliant job with the Health portfolio in and the fantastic successes of the vaccination programme, Northern Ireland. The fundamental point is that the will the Secretary of State listen to his own colleague, benefits of the United Kingdom working together are the Minister for Covid Vaccine Deployment, the hon. once more demonstrated by our ability to work together Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Nadhim Zahawi), who to tackle this variant. said last week that, with the new variant, we must “isolate, isolate, isolate”every single case and its contacts? Dr Jamie Wallis (Bridgend) (Con) [V]: More than Will he finally commit to paying people’s wages to stay 20 million people have now received their second dose at home to self-isolate, and provide practical support in of the vaccine, an achievement that demonstrates the terms of accommodation and support for dependants if phenomenal pace at which we are delivering vaccine necessary? Otherwise, we will only go backwards. across the UK. Does my right hon. Friend agree that this incredible milestone demonstrates what our Union Matt Hancock: I am afraid I do not agree with the can achieve when we work together? hon. Lady’s characterisation of the situation, not least because the approach we are taking in Bolton did work Matt Hancock: I have just waxed lyrical about the effectively in south London. Weare piloting new approaches value of Scotland working with the UK Government to ensuring that we can support people to isolate, and and of Northern Ireland working with the UK some of those pilots are taking place in areas where we Government, and my hon. Friend almost chastises me can see cases of B1617.2. We keep this under close for not mentioning Wales. Of course working with scrutiny and review to see what works effectively. Wales is incredibly important—look at the Wockhardt fill-finish plant. The number of people who have been David Johnston (Wantage) (Con): Part of our fight vaccinated in this country with a product that is against covid, and indeed against future viruses, is to manufactured in Wales measures in the tens of millions, improve our domestic vaccine manufacturing capability. including me. We should all be very proud of that, and I Tothat end, the Government are fast-tracking the Vaccines look forward to working with my new Welsh counterpart, Manufacturing and Innovation Centre at Harwell in my the Minister for Health in Wales, and making sure that constituency. I will be visiting it in a few weeks, but we use all capabilities across these islands to get us back could my right hon. Friend provide an update on the on the road to recovery. progress so far? Matt Hancock: Yes, we are making significant progress Liz Twist (Blaydon) (Lab): Today sees the long- with the onshoring of vaccine capability. It is about anticipated lifting of many of the restrictions on our life developing the vaccine, as the team in Oxford did and social life. At the same time, this strain of the virus brilliantly, but also about manufacturing it onshore, reminds us that we need to be cautious in how we mix 433 Covid-19 Update 17 MAY 2021 Covid-19 Update 434 and how we hug our loved ones. It is important that we nearly as much testing in Pakistan or Bangladesh as have clear messages about interaction, so will the Secretary there is in India. As I said in response to the right hon. of State ensure that Government messages are clear, Member for Leicester South (Jonathan Ashworth), the unambiguous and not mixed, as at present? rate of positivity of people coming from Pakistan was three times higher than that of people coming from Matt Hancock: It is really clear that we are removing India, which was at that time quite low. We have to be restrictions. I am delighted that we are able to remove careful with the raw data, and we have to look at the restrictions, such as the absolute restrictions on close underlying positivity. One of the advantages of testing physical contact, and rely more on people’s personal everybody at the border is that we now effectively have a responsibility. In order to do that, we are providing the global surveillance system to understand the positivity best possible advice that we can, such as to hug, but of travellers from any individual country. As I said, the cautiously. Everybody knows what that means: it means decision was taken on the basis of the fact that the outside is better than inside, it means making sure it is positivity was three times higher from Pakistan than in ventilated spaces and it means that those who have from India. had the vaccine, and in particular two vaccines, are safer than those who have not. Mark Logan (Bolton North East) (Con) [V]: In Bolton It is incumbent on us all to communicate these messages we are battling the Indian variant, with the rate currently from our scientists and to make sure that people understand standing at 274 per 100,000. The heroes of Bolton jabbed them. I am pretty sure that the British public get that. 6,200 people this weekend. Well done to the Health Given how brilliantly people have responded to requests Secretary and his Department. Will he pay tribute to during the pandemic, I am highly confident that this the Bolton team—Councillors Greenhalgh, Baines and approach will be successful and that people will be Morgan, Dr Lowey and Dr Wall? Will the Government cautious, but enjoy the new freedoms that we are thankfully commit to first-dosing the whole of Bolton before the able to give. end of May and getting the second dose out to more vulnerable groups at a similar pace? Finally, what would Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean) (Con): I listened the Health Secretary like to stress to Boltonians as we very carefully to what the Secretary of State said in his open up today with the rest of the country? statement about people being able to prove that they have had the vaccination through the NHS app. I also Matt Hancock: There is one other person who my listened carefully to what he said about the importance hon. Friend did not add to the list, probably due to of the Union. Can I just draw to his attention something modesty, and that is himself. He has worked incredibly that I hope he can look at urgently? I have thousands of hard over the last few days to get the message out to constituents who live in England, but who are registered people across Bolton, and I am very grateful. My message with GPs in Wales and who receive their vaccinations in to everybody in Bolton and Blackburn is: take these Wales. At the moment, it is not proving possible for steps, but please take them safely. Get a test and get them to register with the NHS app that they have had yourself vaccinated as soon as you are in one of the their vaccination. Can I ask him to urgently fix that for eligible groups. It is incredibly important that we get my constituents and those across our United Kingdom? vaccinations to anybody over 50 who has not had a jab yet, so please come forward now. Anybody over 50 who Matt Hancock: This is another example of where we has had one jab eight weeks ago or more should come work better together as one United Kingdom; we are forward for their second. Crucially, get a test. working to solve this problem precisely. Coming from I pay tribute to all those my hon. Friend mentioned. the borders with Wales, I understand this very clearly. Councillor David Greenhalgh, the leader of Bolton Work is under way to ensure that there is interoperability Council, has worked incredibly hard, as have his whole between the data systems in England, Wales, Scotland team. We are working cohesively together, and I very and Northern Ireland. This situation was not foreseen much hope that with that effort, we can get this sorted. when health responsibilities were devolved. I have been working with my counterparts in the three devolved Matt Western (Warwick and Leamington) (Lab) [V]: nations on fixing it, and we have agreed to fix it. Getting Obviously vaccines are important, but so is testing. these data to talk to each other is technically complicated, Six months ago to the day, the Health Secretary told us but that work is under way. that the UK would open two new mega laboratories in early 2021 to double the country’s capacity for carrying Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central) (Lab) [V]: In their out covid-19 tests. We were then advised that they would decisions on easing the lockdown, the Government open in early spring. The one in Scotland was cancelled. have rightly emphasised the importance of being driven The one here in Leamington remains surrounded in by data, but when Pakistan and Bangladesh were added secrecy, non-disclosure agreements and private contracts to the red list, the data showed that daily infection rates for staff employed by private companies, some linked to were substantially higher in India. Will the Secretary of Conservative donors. The Health Secretary will be State admit that the decision not to put India on the red concerned by the delay, I am sure, even if he does not list at that time was influenced by the Prime Minister’s have a financial concern in this project himself. Can he imminent visit to Delhi and the desire to secure a trade tell us what is going on, and can he confirm when the deal? Does he now recognise that that was a mistake? place will open and that staff will be employed directly by the NHS? Matt Hancock: If I just explain the data to the hon. Gentleman, I am sure that he will understand. The measures Matt Hancock: We have a PCR testing capacity in of the case rate per 100,000 are influenced by the amount this country of many hundreds of thousands more than of testing that is done in any country, and there is not we use each day.The Leamington Spa project is incredibly 435 Covid-19 Update 17 MAY 2021 Covid-19 Update 436

[Matt Hancock] hospitalised in Bolton as a result of the new variant had already been vaccinated; what more we can do to help important and the people working there are doing a spread the word to those who have not yet agreed to be magnificent job. Frankly, I do not think that the rest of vaccinated; and what role he expects pharmacies to play the hon. Gentleman’s question deserves an answer. in testing as we go forward? James Cartlidge (South Suffolk) (Con): I strongly Matt Hancock: The best understanding that we have share my right hon. Friend’ssentiment, which he expressed is that five of the 18 who were in hospital yesterday had earlier, about his pride in the role that the United been vaccinated once, and one had been vaccinated Kingdom has played in the global vaccine effort, through twice but it is not clear how recently. Therefore, the the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. Of course, the Indian majority have not been vaccinated, but most of them variant shows that we remain vulnerable while the virus could have been vaccinated. That is frustrating to see, is rampant abroad, so what further steps can we take in but it is also a message to everyone. We monitor this the global fight against covid? closely and the latest information on those who have been admitted to hospital in Bolton over the weekend is Matt Hancock: My hon. Friend makes an incredibly similar: the majority are unvaccinated. It reinforces the important point that we cannot stress enough. We all, message that people should come forward and get especially developed countries, have a role to play in making vaccinated, because that is best way to protect everybody. sure that we get the vaccines around the world. The UK approach is focused on outcomes and on getting as Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op) [V]: many people as possible vaccinated globally. The best Before Christmas, it was the mutation—the Kent variant— way to do that is to allow the work that we have done mixed with the opening of the economy in York that here—the research and the proving of the Oxford- caused a rapid spike of covid-19 infection, as people AstraZeneca vaccine—to be replicated and manufactured came to visit our city en masse and spread the virus everywhere at cost. That is a better approach because it through the hospitality sector, where still many workers protects future intellectual property values and allows are yet to be vaccinated. Here we are again, and who for the research money to go into new vaccines and knows what will come next? A different variant—the variant vaccines. It does not undermine the system of Indian variant—with high transmissibility is about to intellectual property, which is the underpinning concept be spread in a city that many people are already visiting, of all pharmaceutical development, yet at the same time with more to come. We feel vulnerable. What proactive, it makes sure that we get people vaccinated around the preventive steps will the Secretary of State take so that world. This country should be incredibly proud that we we do not pay that heavy price again for the Government have helped vaccinate over 400 million people, with not acting fast enough? many hundreds of millions more to come. Matt Hancock: The most important difference between now and then is, of course, that the vast majority of Tonia Antoniazzi (Gower) (Lab): On Saturday, my those who are vulnerable to ending up in hospital or friends and I put on our trainers and walked 26 miles in dying of covid have had two vaccines. The vaccination Gower to raise a bucketload of cash for the fantastic uptake rates have been spectacularly high and the uptake breast cancer charity Walk the Walk. As chair of the rate of the second vaccine has also been incredibly high. all-party parliamentary group on cancer, I know only That means that the protection afforded to those who too well the devastating impact that the pandemic has have chosen to take up the vaccine is very high. The had on cancer services. One of the key ways in which latest estimates show that having two jabs and waiting a the Secretary of State can help with the Government’s fortnight or so after the second jab leads to around a goals to recover from the pandemic is by ensuring that 97% reduction in mortality. Of course, we will continue we have enough well-trained and motivated NHS staff to drive and to open up access in order to find the final now and into the future. What discussions has he had few per cent. of people, but the lesson of the last few with the Treasury to ensure a comprehensive, multi-year days is that people who have not taken up the opportunity funding settlement for the NHS in the autumn spending to be vaccinated should do so, because it is those people review? Will he meet me and Macmillan Cancer Support who have sadly ended up in hospital, and we do not to discuss this urgent matter? want that. Matt Hancock: I am always very happy to meet the Mr William Wragg (Hazel Grove) (Con): The Health hon. Lady, who works incredibly hard on this topic. I Secretary can be proud of his role in the vaccination am delighted to say that the recovery of cancer services programme, and I welcome the further reduction in the is going well and that in many of the centres, the rate of age of eligibility. It may surprise my right hon. Friend, diagnosis, testing and surgery is above 100% of 2019 and indeed the House, that despite my appearance and levels. That is very important. Of course, we are working general manner, there are still a few years yet to go, but I towards the spending review. The NHS has a long-term will be there, seized of the importance of taking up my baseline settlement, but on top of that we are putting vaccine. May I urge him to favour a surge in vaccination, extra money into the recovery that she rightly champions. rather than to flirt even momentarily with the idea of I would be delighted to talk to her more about it. imposing local restrictions, which are not helpful and create a great deal of resentment? Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con): The message today is all about the balance between celebrating the Matt Hancock: I am glad to say that we will get to my return of more freedoms today and in the future, and hon. Friend before the end of July, no matter how young the need for caution, depending on the good sense of he is. I am pretty sure he is an adult in both actuality my constituents in Gloucester and those elsewhere. Will and attitude—crikey, I am getting myself into more my right hon. Friend tell us how many of those recently trouble than I anticipated. 437 Covid-19 Update 17 MAY 2021 Covid-19 Update 438

I understand my hon. Friend’s broader point, which Matt Hancock: The red, amber and green lists reflect is a call against local lockdowns, and we have had the risks that there are in other places around the world. differences of view on that in the past. It is not where we The amber list means that people need to quarantine at want to go, though of course we do not rule it out. We home, the red list means that they need to quarantine in have seen our approach work—it worked in south London a hotel, and the green list means that we think it is safe —and we have this huge testing capacity, which we did to travel. My hon. Friend should get his passport out—he not have in the autumn, of hundreds of thousands of can get on a plane to Portugal or one of the other tests a day. That capacity is expanding, as the hon. countries. The system allows for some careful foreign Member for Warwick and Leamington (Matt Western) travel. However, my first duty is to protect the lives of articulated. We also have millions of lateral flow tests, people here in the UK, and the best way to do that right which are simple and easy to use, and people get the now is to make sure that we are cautious on international result fast. With surge testing plus the vaccine, we have travel to protect the opening up here at home. many more tools in our armoury than we did before. Rebecca Long Bailey (Salford and Eccles) (Lab) [V]: Peter Grant (Glenrothes) (SNP) [V]: I am very grateful The Secretary of State will know that analysis of the in advance to the NHS Fife staff who will give me my data published by Public Health England shows that the second dose of the vaccine exactly 10 weeks to the day spike in cases in Bolton so far is mostly confined to after my first one. schoolchildren and young adults who are socially mobile The Secretary of State indicated that probably a and have not yet been vaccinated. There are valid concerns, significant factor in the spread of the highly transmissible therefore, that as lockdown eases today, it might lead to new variant is that people who could have been vaccinated a rise in cases within unvaccinated cohorts across Salford, by now chose,for whatever reason, not to accept the vaccine. which borders Bolton. Can he confirm that he will act In a number of cases, people have genuine concerns, but now to protect people in Salford by curbing any spread a major issue must be that people are declining the beyond surge hotspots and accelerating the vaccine vaccine because they believe the lies deliberately and roll-out programme in Salford not just for second doses, maliciously spread by anti-vax campaigners on social but for first doses for young, unvaccinated cohorts? media. What further action do the Government wish to take against those who deliberately spread those lies for Matt Hancock: Yes, we are opening up vaccinations no other purpose than to put the lives of others at risk? for those aged 37 tomorrow, and anybody in Salford who Matt Hancock: The anti-vaxxers have not had a very is in one of the eligible groups and has not been good time of it recently, and I am absolutely delighted vaccinated should come forward. If you are in Salford that take-up is as high as it is. One of the reasons we and you were vaccinated more than eight weeks ago but have been able to take on the anti-vaxxers so effectively have not yet had your second jab, please come forward. is that we have not danced to their tune. Instead, We now have a very good surveillance system in this Members right across the House—I am looking around country and we publish all the data from it so that now and I see people in all parts of the House who have we can all see the cases day by day. We can also see the played their part in this—have put across the positive, impact on hospitalisations.I am glad to say that, thankfully, science-based, objective, enlightenment values, if you the almost inexorable link from cases through to like, of why the vaccine is the right thing. We as a hospitalisation and death that we saw in the past is now House, as leaders of our national debate, have done that broken. The link is not completely severed, but it is with one voice, based on the scientific advice. We have much, much weaker because of the protection of the done it across the four nations of the United Kingdom vaccine. Those are the things that people can do in with one voice. We have done it with scientists, with Salford, and I look forward to working with the hon. clinicians, with religious leaders—with all those who Lady to get those messages out to everybody. have a strong voice in this debate. Telling the positive story is the vital thing that we can do. Of course there Sara Britcliffe (Hyndburn) (Con): The Secretary of State may be those who do otherwise, but that is not for will know that my constituency of Hyndburn and us—it is for us to tell the positive story. Haslingden borders Blackburn with Darwen, and I I am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman for playing thank the Department for having listened to colleagues’ his part in that by celebrating having his second jab. I call for extra support and resources through additional am thrilled that he will have, in just a couple of weeks’ vaccines and surge testing. On a call this morning, time, the maximum protection that one can get. He is Amanda Doyle, the integrated care system lead for helping not only himself and his loved ones, but all of Lancashire and South Cumbria, told us that one of us together to get through this. the main concerns today is not a shortage of supply but the uptake of vaccines, so will my right hon. Friend join Huw Merriman (Bexhill and Battle) (Con) [V]: I was me in encouraging residents across Lancashire to come going to ask the Secretary of State to confirm whether, forward for their jab when eligible, and reiterate how for those vaccinated, there is effectiveness against the important this is in protecting our local communities? B16172 variant, and how many deaths in the UK from that strain have been recorded among the vaccinated. Matt Hancock: Yes, 100%. Just like people across Salford However, given that he has just effectively turned the and Greater Manchester,people across Lancashire should amber list red, can I ask him what is the point of me come forward to get the jab if they are eligible. In some having my passport anymore? Covid will always mutate areas, such as parts of Bolton, we are going door and the vaccine will always have to keep up. We have to door with the jab; in the wider area, we are saying to managed to vaccinate 99% of the mortality risk cohort. people, “Come forward and get your jab. That is the When will this Government actually take a little bit of best protection you can have.” Twice-weekly testing is risk and allow people to get on with their lives again? also available to everybody now, so people should come 439 Covid-19 Update 17 MAY 2021 Covid-19 Update 440

[Matt Hancock] I urge the hon. Lady to speak to her colleagues in the local NHS, and ask them whether they think that forward and get their tests. The more regularly they get collaboration is the way forward; whether we should tested, the more they can help break the chains of have greater interoperability; and whether we should transmission, and when they get their chance, they have greater integration on the ground, and get rid of a should get the jab. load of the bureaucracy that is currently there in law. If she is not persuaded by her local NHS, by me or by the Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields) (Lab): Thanks Select Committee, perhaps she should speak to her own to the Prime Minister’s delaying travel restrictions, an Front Benchers, who also welcomed the reforms. estimated 20,000 people arrived in the UK from India before restrictions were put in place. Can the Secretary Robert Largan (High Peak) (Con): As of last week, over of State inform the House how many of those arrivals 82,000 doses of the covid vaccine have been administered were covid positive and were subsequently quarantined, across the High Peak. It is an amazing achievement and and if not, why not? I put on my record my thanks again to everyone who has made that possible. I urge the Health Secretary to Matt Hancock: We publish that data, so I refer the focus on doing surge vaccinations and surge testing in hon. Lady to the gov.uk website. those areas with growing numbers of new cases to put Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet) (Con): The vaccination us in the best possible position, so that we can get rid of programme is one of the biggest and most successful any remaining restrictions as soon as possible. civilian logistical exercises in our country’s history, and I thank the Secretary of State for his role in delivering Matt Hancock: Yes, this is our planned approach. I it. It should open the way for our hospitality businesses am glad to say that the number of cases across the High to start operating at full capacity in due course, and for Peak is very, very low. I am also glad to see that the events, festivals and conferences to start, but there is vaccination rates across the whole of Derbyshire are still a lot of uncertainty about when this will happen. really high—I was in Derbyshire just before the elections, Will the Secretary of State publish a plan so that those and the rates are high and there is huge enthusiasm two crucial sectors of our economy can reopen? It may behind the project. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend’s take a while, but they need a plan and a timetable. work in making sure that that is what has happened.

Matt Hancock: We are working on a plan for that Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion) (Green) [V]: Given with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for that the so-called Indian variant is now a variant of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and of course on the concern and is linked to several outbreaks in schools, social distancing review that the Prime Minister is leading why have the Government just abandoned the requirement on. We are committed to making sure that we publish to wear face masks in secondary school classrooms? that well in advance of the decision on 14 June as to The Secretary of State is fond of claiming that he is what the data show about step 4, which is currently following the science, but this flies in the face of scientific planned for 21 June. Of course, we have set out four advice from SAGE, public health experts and teaching parameters for taking that step on 21 June, and the first unions. It begs the question as to why he is getting rid of three are currently in good shape. The challenge is the one of the few mitigation measures in schools that we new variant, but it is far too early to be able to say know actually works when we have such a transmissible anything about that specifically. We will look at the data variant. No one wants to see face masks in schools for up to 14 June and make an announcement on that date. longer than necessary, but neither do they want children to lose out on face-to-face education because of virus Margaret Greenwood (Wirral West) (Lab) [V]: Covid outbreaks. Once community rates go up, school rates go restrictions are easing, but almost 5 million people are up, so why is he needlessly putting education at risk? waiting to start NHS treatment, so now is not the time for a major reorganisation of the national health service. However, the Government’s plans for the future of the Matt Hancock: The hon. Lady kind of answered the NHS and social care would embed a postcode lottery, question in the question, when she said that everybody allow for the deregulation of NHS professions and allow wants to see face-to-face education. The thing is that in the discharge of vulnerable patients from hospital before a classroom setting, being able to see somebody’s face they have been assessed for continuing healthcare. Public does have a material impact and, therefore, we do not consultation on this has been woefully inadequate, so want to have face coverings in school settings for longer will the Secretary of State pause the entire process until than they are necessary, but we are prepared to have after all covid restrictions have been lifted, and then them in place where they are necessary.There is discretion carry out a full public consultation so that patients, NHS for local directors of public health where there are staff, care workers and unpaid carers can have their say? significant challenges. It is something that we discussed, for instance, with the director of public health in Bolton Matt Hancock: On the contrary, the proposed reforms and in Blackburn. That has been part of the discussions set out in the White Paper, which have come from the over the last few days. What the hon. Lady is asking for NHS itself, will help to deal with the backlog. They will is a blanket approach, including in areas where the help to make sure that the NHS is ready for the rest of number of cases is incredibly low. The decision that we the 21st century.They have been welcomed by the Health have taken, on balance—taking into account the education and Social Care Committee, and I am grateful to that risks and the advice from SAGE and public health Committee for its report last week, which welcomed experts— those reforms while asking for further detail on a couple of other areas, which we will work with the Committee on. Caroline Lucas indicated dissent. 441 Covid-19 Update 17 MAY 2021 Covid-19 Update 442

Matt Hancock: The hon. Lady shakes her head. We hear that the vaccines seem to be protecting against the listen to the scientists and, crucially, balance both the Indian variant too. Can my right hon. Friend confirm public health advice and the impact on education. Therefore, that the Novavax vaccine, which is made in Teesside, we have a more localised approach, without the blanket will also be tested against the Indian variant and other approach that she recommends. variants of concern, and will he update us on when it will be made available as another great Teesside export? Rob Butler (Aylesbury) (Con): Today’s measures are very welcome in Aylesbury, with local pubs, restaurants, Matt Hancock: Yes, Teesside is playing it part. In fact, the museum and the cinema all eager to welcome back earlier today I met Ben Houchen, the newly re-elected customers. Will my right hon. Friend reassure local Mayor of Teesside, to talk about what more we can do residents that, as business and culture return to normality, to invest in Teesside—in the NHS in Teesside, and in life so too will our health services, and that, over time, it sciences, such as vaccine production, on Teesside. He is will become easier once again to have face-to-face doing a fantastic job of taking the voice of Teesside appointments with GPs? right into the heart of Whitehall—as is my hon. Friend, of course. Matt Hancock: Yes. My hon. Friend will no doubt My hon. Friend is quite right to raise this point about have seen the letter sent out from Dr Nikki Kanani, the Novavax vaccine, which is going to be manufactured who is the medical director of primary care for NHS on Teesside. Of course, we will study its impact against England, reiterating the point that it is important to the new variants, but we have a high degree of confidence offer a face-to-face consultation for a patient who really that the Novavax vaccine has a broad coverage. In fact, wants one while also using technology where that is the one of its attractions is that it has that broad coverage, most clinically appropriate thing to do. These decisions not just against the variant that it was precisely designed should be taken between doctor and patient together. to deal with but against a wide range of variants. That is There is no greater supporter than me of the use of part of the theory of the technology that underpins that technology in healthcare. I think it improves access no particular vaccine. It is a very modern vaccine, it is very end. People do need to be able to go to the surgery if exciting, and it is terrific that it is being made on Teesside. they so choose and see the right person—the clinically appropriate person. That is the approach that we are Navendu Mishra (Stockport) (Lab) [V]: We are not taking while making sure that we can use a system that safe until everyone is safe. Following President Biden’s allows people to access the right services in the right announcement that the US Government will support settings as much as possible. an intellectual property waiver to help scale up the volume of safe and effective covid-19 vaccines globally, Yvette Cooper (Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford) can the Secretary of State explain why the British (Lab): People will understandably feel angry that all the Government are still blocking the agreement on trade- progress that everyone has worked so hard for by supporting related aspects of intellectual property rights—TRIPS— the vaccines and following restrictions is now being waiver at the World Trade Organisation? slowed or potentially put at risk because the Government’s border measures have failed to prevent the spread of a Matt Hancock: Because we have a better approach. new variant. Can the Secretary of State tell me whether Our UK approach has led to the vaccination of 400 million it is true, as reported, that even by 7 April, 5% of people people. The hon. Gentleman should take enormous arriving from India had covid, apparently 50 times pride in that. We have been able to do that while higher than the rate here; what that figure had risen to protecting the intellectual property rights that will lead by 19 April; and how many of the 2,323 already identified to the development, for instance, of the new vaccines, new variant cases are people who travelled directly from the new technologies and the variant vaccines that are India, and how many are people who caught it through going to be necessary in the future. It is that combination onward transmission that was not prevented by the of the protection of intellectual property rights plus the border measures? giving away of this vaccine at cost to the developing world—to lower and middle-income countries. Matt Hancock: As I said, the positivity rate for people travelling from India was relatively low at the I reiterate the point I made earlier, which I hope the start of April. We published the data of the positivity hon. Gentleman will take pride in: of the 54 million rates from the managed quarantine service. However, vaccine doses delivered through the COVAX facility, of by the end of April, the positivity rate from India had which we are a major funder, 53 million have been of risen, so we took the precautionary decision, even before the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, delivered with no charge this variant was deemed a variant under investigation, for the intellectual property. That is the approach we to put India on the red list. We did that before other should be taking. That is what we will do, and I urge similar countries, such as Germany and Canada, banned everybody around the world to follow. their flights. I understand the enthusiasm of the Chair of the Home Affairs Committee for pursuing this line Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): I do aim to try of questioning, but we have to take decisions based on to take everybody, so can we have concise questions—and the evidence; we cannot take decisions based on evidence concise answers, Secretary of State? that arrives afterwards, which is what she seems to think we should have done. Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con) [V]: My right hon. Friend will be aware that London has a younger Jacob Young (Redcar) (Con): More than 70,000 people cohort and is full of communities from across the in Redcar and Cleveland have now had at least one jab, world, but many are hesitant because of the activities of which is an amazing achievement so far. It is great to pharmaceutical companies in the countries of their origin. 443 Covid-19 Update 17 MAY 2021 Covid-19 Update 444

[Bob Blackman] Matt Hancock: Yes, of course. My hon. Friend puts it very wisely. As the Member of Parliament for Burton, Will he look at aspects of control to ensure that those which is famous for its beer and its pubs, she no doubt communities can get the vaccine they choose to take, speaks for her whole constituency when she says that rather than attempting to force them to take vaccines she welcomes the measures we are taking and the steps they are extremely reluctant to take? we are able to take today. People should take those steps with caution. Outside remains better than inside. It is Matt Hancock: We have had a principle of saying harder in the rain, Mr Deputy Speaker, but it is still that they come forward for the vaccine and get the better to be outside if you can. Putting more down to vaccine that is there on the day, but of course we have personal responsibility is the right approach at this nuanced that because of the changes in the clinical stage, with the low level of virus and the huge scope of advice on the AstraZeneca vaccine. As we reach further the vaccination project. I am very grateful to her for her and further into those who need encouragement to support in pushing that agenda. come forward, so we are willing to look at more and more creative solutions to tackle people’s hesitancy. As it happens, I was in Brent central mosque last week at David Linden (Glasgow East) (SNP): The Secretary Eid. It was absolutely wonderful to see the work they of State will be aware that in Glasgow we have seen an have done to make sure that people of all faiths and increase in the virus due to the so-called Indian variant. none can come forward. For many Muslim people it That means that although everybody in this House is means that in Brent they can go forward to somewhere celebrating the return to indoor hospitality, many where they are very comfortable being vaccinated. It Glaswegians have not been able to experience it today, was brilliant, frankly, to see teams working in the mosque which we bitterly regret. to vaccinate people of all backgrounds. The imam was Up until 6 o’clock yesterday, flights were still coming vaccinated by someone with the support of a member into the UK from India, and 20,000 people have arrived of the Jewish community with me looking on, all organised in the UK since the alarm was raised about that variant. by a Hindu administrator. It was modern Britain at its Does the Secretary of State really want to look Glaswegians best. They have done thousands of vaccines and they in the eye and say that that was decisive action that has have done great work. I know it is that sort of approach led to their staying in tier 3? that my hon. Friend is looking for. If we can do more on the specifics of which vaccine, I am very happy to look at that. [Interruption.] Matt Hancock: The history as the hon. Gentleman describes it is, in fact, wrong. We put India on the red Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): I think we list and therefore required hotel quarantine before the have just heard the skies opening above us. I am grateful variant was designated even as under investigation, let we can now eat inside restaurants. alone as a variant of concern. So yes, we did take pre-emptive action. Anybody arriving now who has Emma Hardy (Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle) been in India in the past 10 days must go to a hotel to (Lab): Hull Royal Infirmary is a tower block and the quarantine. geography of the building has resulted in a higher number of covid transmissions in hospital, despite the Scott Benton (Blackpool South) (Con): Although the excellent work being done by all NHS staff. I fear that incredible success of our world-leading vaccination covid cases caught in hospital will only increase with a programme has reduced the number of people in hospital more transmissible strain of the virus. Will the Secretary with covid substantially, thereby relieving much of the of State look urgently at providing Hull Royal Infirmary pressure on the NHS, many of my constituents are still with the funding it needs to improve its building as we waiting longer for non-urgent NHS care. I am delighted all learn to live with the virus? that Blackpool Victoria Hospital is included in the pilot project looking at innovative ways to deliver services Matt Hancock: As the hon. Lady knows, we are and reduce the backlog. Can my right hon. Friend building 48 new hospitals over this decade. Forty of reassure me that it will get all the resources it needs to those have been set out, but there are a further eight remove the backlog as quickly as it possibly can? slots, so she may want to work with Hull Royal Infirmary to bring forward a proposal. Of course, tackling infection within hospital is incredibly important work and always Matt Hancock: Yes. Blackpool Victoria is a fantastic has been since the time of Florence Nightingale. It is hospital and the team there has worked incredibly hard, even more important right now and I think it will be a especially over the past year and a half. I am delighted higher priority over the years ahead. I am always very that it is part of the plan to work out how we can go happy to look at all proposals. even faster to get not just to the baseline 100% levels of activity in the equivalent month in 2019, but far higher Kate Griffiths (Burton) (Con) [V]: Today’s relaxation than that, because we have to get through the backlog. of restrictions is so welcome for all those who work in The backlog is not just those who are currently on the the hospitality industry. Pubs, restaurants and leisure waiting list, although too many are waiting more than a facilities are all making huge changes to operations to year and the waiting list is too long; there are also welcome back customers, while also ensuring they keep people who have not yet presented, but who we know everyone safe. Does my right hon. Friend agree that we are likely to have a problem. This is a huge challenge should support those local businesses, while ensuring that and I am very grateful to colleagues in Blackpool, who we play our part in abiding by the safety measures and are working so hard not just to get through the backlog, exercising caution as we gradually return to a normal but learn how best to get through it so that others can way of life? learn from them. 445 Covid-19 Update 17 MAY 2021 Covid-19 Update 446

Dr Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire) (Con) Matt Hancock: My right hon. Friend is right to [V]: The staggering success of the covid vaccination praise the incredible efforts in Bournemouth, which I programme means that on current trends, sadly,non-covid know he has played a very direct and personal part in viruses may well kill more people this winter than the delivering, and I look forward very much to visiting as coronavirus. Is my right hon. Friend confident that an soon as I can get down there—and, by the way, I agree effective flu jab will be available to address this year’s with Sir John Bell that Bournemouth is a great place to emergent strains of flu? What will he do to maximise go on holiday and I am sure my right hon. Friend agrees uptake of the flu vaccine by vulnerable groups? What is about that too. the latest on a covid booster dose this autumn? Would On global support, of course as and when we have the flu jab be given at the same time? excess doses we will look to support countries around the world with those doses, but the number of doses Matt Hancock: My right hon. Friend is quite right to that we can support around the world from our excess ask all those questions. In fact, I met Simon Stevens and purchases is small compared with the spectacular support the Minister for Covid Vaccine Deployment about the we have already given the whole world with the more matter this morning, because we want to ensure that the than 400 million doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine flu vaccine programme this winter is a success. We had that have been delivered at cost. The majority of Oxford- the biggest flu vaccination programme in history last AstraZeneca doses have been injected in low and middle- winter. We are currently trialling the co-administration income countries, and 98% of all COVAX jabs given so of flu and covid vaccines—I am waving my hands because far have been that vaccine delivered on the back of one goes in each arm. We are looking at that for the British science, supported by the UK Government, autumn as part of a booster programme for covid. A lot Oxford university and AstraZeneca, doing this all without of work is under way in this space; I suggest that my taking a profit. We should be very proud of that. right hon. Friend discusses it with the Minister for Covid Vaccine Deployment, who is now responsible Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Saddleworth) (Lab) both for the covid programme and for the flu programme, [V]: The wider the gap between the rich and poor, the in order to better tie them together. bigger the difference in our life expectancy and healthy life expectancy.That has been laid bare over the last year: Clive Efford (Eltham) (Lab): I heard what the Secretary the UK’shigh and unequal covid death toll has been driven of State had to say about testing rates in Pakistan and by the rampant poverty and inequality that successive Bangladesh, but according to Johns Hopkins University, Conservative Governments have allowed to go unchecked. the daily infection rate in Pakistan back in April was In January, the Prime Minister promised to implement 4,500; in Bangladesh it was 7,000 and in India it was Professor Sir Michael Marmot’s recommendations to 100,000. Surely,if he were taking a precautionary approach, address that and to build back fairer, so what discussions he should have placed India on the red list much sooner. has the Health Secretary had with the Prime Minister Matt Hancock: No. The statistic that is missing from on that, and will investigating the UK’s structural poverty that analysis, which was also missing from that of the and inequality be part of a covid inquiry? hon. Member for Sheffield Central (Paul Blomfield), is the amount of testing that is done in each country. We Matt Hancock: I discussed this issue with the Prime have to look at the positivity when an appropriate Minister. The office for health promotion is intended to selected sample is tested. It is not possible to do that in be able to tackle some of those issues, led clinically by many low and middle-income countries, so the best way the chief medical officer, to make sure we can strengthen is to look at the positivity rate of people who are the public health case around Government, because so travelling to the UK, because we test everybody. That is many policies of Departments outwith the Health the most statistically appropriate way to assess the Department are critical in addressing the question the question that the hon. Member for Eltham (Clive Efford) hon. Lady raises. rightly tries to assess, and it showed that positivity rates were three times higher in India. Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con) [V]: I thank the Secretary of State for yet again coming to the House Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): The time limit to update us on the covid situation. The Prime Minister, in the Queen’s Speech debate following this statement the Secretary of State and the whole Government must will start at five minutes, but I am sure it will go down take great credit for the vaccination programme. The thereafter. Secretary of State is surely right when he says we can defeat covid only if we have vaccinations, and we have Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East) (Con): I been tremendously successful at that; I think we did look forward to welcoming my right hon. Friend the 800,000 in one day last week. However, is it possible for Secretary of State when he visits the vaccination hub in us to increase that vaccination rate even more so we can Bournemouth. Today’s partial liberation of covid defeat this terrible pandemic even earlier? restrictions will be welcome up and down the country, and not least in Bournemouth where hospitality and Matt Hancock: I hope so. The great limiting factor tourism are so important, but the development of yet remains supply. We get them out as fast as we get them another mutation in the Indian variant illustrates that in; there is not a stockpile waiting. My hon. Friend is until this pandemic is brought under control globally, absolutely right about the importance of the programme: other more deadly mutations may develop. Does my trusting the vaccine science and offering everybody a right hon. Friend agree that this is a shared global vaccine is the way out for all of us. If the Bolton example adversary? Will it be raised at the G7 summit, and when demonstrates that it is the unvaccinated who end up in does he think our spare vaccine capacity can start to be hospital, we need to get that message to everyone. I directed abroad? would far rather be getting the vaccines out than having 447 Covid-19 Update 17 MAY 2021 Covid-19 Update 448

[Matt Hancock] for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Worcestershire (Nigel Huddleston) to undertake the sorts of local lockdown we had in the —who I know found it extremely enjoyable to be able to autumn; it is a far, far better approach, because we have go to a sports event as the Minister for Sport, which he these capabilities—the vaccines and the mass testing. has missed. We will assess the data that come out of it. That is the approach we are taking; my hon. Friend is Everybody who went is part of a testing regime. We will right to highlight it, and he was very kind to say what he look at the results, as we will look at the results of the said about me. other pilots, such as the Brits and the snooker at the Crucible, and then make an assessment. Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con) [V]: People are really grateful to GP surgeries for their role Ruth Cadbury (Brentford and Isleworth) (Lab): The in the vaccine roll-out, but are very keen to be seen face UK’s defences against incoming covid infections are to face by a doctor, where that is appropriate, and in a only as strong as the weakest point. I am still awaiting a timely manner. What is the Department doing to make response from the Health Secretary about the Hounslow that increasingly possible, please? director of public health’s concerns about covid-infected Matt Hancock: My hon. Friend will no doubt have seafarers being transported to Hounslow hotels by the seen the note that went out last week from Dr Nikki shipping companies, with no quarantine, no prompt Kanani about ensuring that face-to-face access is available notification to local public health teams and no consistent to the appropriate clinician, and that the use of technology infection control at the hotels. Travellers and staff at should be encouraged but should be a matter for a Heathrow are also raising concerns about weaknesses in discussion between the clinician and the patient. For the arrivals process. When will the Health Secretary many people, it is more of an advantage. Personally, I convince this House that the UK’s covid defences are fit use telemedicine, and it is much more convenient for for purpose? me, as a healthy and busy 42-year-old, but for some Matt Hancock: I pay tribute to the team who have people it is right to see their clinician face to face. That put together the managed quarantine service, which has letter went out last week, and we obviously constantly run remarkably smoothly for such a complicated operation. keep this issue under review and monitor it carefully. They are always very happy to hear feedback, and are Mike Amesbury (Weaver Vale) (Lab): Last week, I constantly improving the system. I work very closely met the Taskforce for Lung Health, which raised a with the Home Secretary and the Transport Secretary concern about an increased occurrence of lung scarring on this. There have been remarkably few complaints in long covid sufferers. What assessment has the Secretary about a system that has had to be put in place for of State made of the impact of this on potential resources significant numbers of people. for the health service? Holly Mumby-Croft (Scunthorpe) (Con) [V]: I thank Matt Hancock: We are of course worried about the the Health Secretary for his constant support in ensuring impact of long covid, and the evidence is growing about continuous vaccine supplies to the Baths Hall. Wehave, of the different impacts. The clinical advice is that there course, been following the Prime Minister’sannouncements are a number of different syndromes that are, together, closely in Scunthorpe. Will my right hon. Friend set out badged as long covid. For some people it has an impact, more detail on how the move toward some second doses as the hon. Member says, on lung scarring; for some after eight weeks will be implemented, especially for people the impact is more neurological. So we have to those who have already booked their 12-week appointment? make sure that the services, the response and, indeed, Matt Hancock: I am delighted that we managed to the research are targeted at the different types of long sort out the wrinkle that we had with the supplies of covid. I am very happy to arrange a discussion between vaccine to Scunthorpe. It was a really good example of him and our clinical leaders on long covid, because it is how this should work: my hon. Friend spoke up for a very important topic. Scunthorpe, and then the Minister got it fixed. I am Dr Luke Evans (Bosworth) (Con) [V]: The Health very glad that we managed to sort that, and if there are Secretary may be forgiven, as he is one of the busiest any further problems, please do let me know. people in the country at the moment, if he missed We are inviting people who are over 50 and have a Tielemans’s strike from 30 yards and the VAR decision second jab booked 12 weeks after their first to rebook late on in the game, but 21,000 fans saw it live, and their vaccination from eight weeks after—not before many of them were my constituents who were there to eight weeks, because the effectiveness of the second jab celebrate Leicester City winning the cup. Wembley of strengthens for those first eight weeks. They can do that course holds 90,000 people and it was a test event, so on the national booking system or through calling 119. when will we find out the results of the test event and We are texting those whose numbers we have to the outcome for things such as the Euros in the future? communicate with them. There is a whole process in place to get people rebooked wherever possible. Matt Hancock: We will find out the results in the next few weeks. Of course, the right hon. Member for Leicester Mr Toby Perkins (Chesterfield) (Lab): People in South (Jonathan Ashworth) may have been so cheerful Chesterfield are looking forward to getting back to the in his opening remarks because he was there, and he saw football stadium this weekend. I am not sure we will Leicester triumph. I watched it, and I just thought how enjoy it quite as much as my right hon. Friend the brilliant it was to see a live crowd again. It was not full— Member for Leicester South (Jonathan Ashworth) did that is true—and no doubt it could have been filled, but this weekend; none the less, it is incredibly important to it was not full because we are taking it carefully. I am everyone. For that reason, they are understandably working with my right hon Friend the Culture Secretary worried by the increase of the Indian variant, so it is and the Minister for Sport—the Under-Secretary of State important that we understand the decisions. I heard 449 Covid-19 Update 17 MAY 2021 Covid-19 Update 450 what the Health Secretary had to say about the reasons diverse nation has been able to achieve that record by why he thought it was appropriate for India to be put on taking this positive attitude and having people from the list later than Pakistan and Bangladesh, but there Her Majesty down setting out the value of being vaccinated. will be those who think that the Prime Minister’simpending I pay tribute to the comms team at NHS England and trip to India was a factor. We know there is an inquiry my communications team from across Whitehall, which coming down the track. Will the Health Secretary confirm have taken the lessons for how to get a positive narrative, and clarify that there were no discussions, when the decision especially on social media, and made sure we fought lies was made to put India on the red list later than Pakistan with objective truth. That has been fantastic. and Bangladesh, about the economic consequences, the On the ground, there are some really good examples. Prime Minister’s trip or anything like that, and that it I mentioned my visit to Brent central mosque and I pay was purely health considerations that were in play? tribute to the people there. Some brilliant work has happened in Leicester; for instance, there was a vaccination Matt Hancock: These decisions are based on the centre right next to an area heavily populated by those evidence, and the Joint Biosecurity Centre puts forward of Somali background, but they were not going to the the evidence for red-listing. In the first instance, the red vaccination centre despite the fact that it was next door list is there to stop new variants, but this variant was not and so we set up a vaccination centre almost next door a known variant under investigation. Because of the but where the doctors and clinicians are themselves increase in the overall rates—the overall positivity—of Somalis. We then we saw a very sharp rate in the Somali people coming to this country, first from Pakistan and vaccination rate.That is one example that I can immediately Bangladesh at the start of April, and then towards the add to the elucidation of the answer to this question, end of April from India, we took the precautionary but there are legion. People from around the world have decision to put them on the red list. That is a matter of been coming, via Zoom, to talk to some of our more fact; I am happy to state that. The job now is to make innovative vaccination centres, be it at the mosque, at sure we keep this all under control. the Hindu temple in Neasden, which is doing brilliant work, in Leicester or, now, in Bolton and Blackburn, Laura Farris (Newbury) (Con): The success of the where I hope we can make some really significant vaccination programme has surpassed expectations, in progress. Frankly, this country should be proud of how part because of the very effective work that was done in people have pulled together to make this vaccination tackling vaccine hesitancy at the start, but it is implicit programme work. in my right hon. Friend’s statement that, in Bolton and Blackburn particularly, there has been less success with Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): Unbelievably, persuading some people. What does he consider to be I am older than Will Wragg, marginally, so I have had the model of good practice in persuading hard-to-reach my first jab. The second jab is a week Saturday—bring it groups? Where does he think that has taken place, and on! Secretary of State, thank you for your statement how will he roll it out in other areas? today. We will suspend for two minutes. Matt Hancock: I am incredibly proud that the UK has the highest measured rate of enthusiasm for taking 6.6 pm the vaccine in the world, and especially that such a Sitting suspended. 451 17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 452

Debate on the Address full range of state threats posed to the United Kingdom and cleaning up the internet by making tech companies meet their responsibility to protect people, children in [4TH DAY] particular, from online harm. Debate resumed (Order, 13 May). Last Wednesday, we reintroduced the Police, Crime, Question again proposed, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which begins its Committee That an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, as stage tomorrow.This Bill is essential for making our streets follows: safe and, as we build back better from this pandemic, Most Gracious Sovereign, we must also build back safer.That is why this Government We, Your Majesty’smost dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons proudly stand with the law-abiding majority in backing of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in our fantastic police. For well over a year, during an Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to unprecedented emergency, police officers have been there, Your Majesty for the Gracious Speech which Your Majesty has addressed to both Houses of Parliament. performing their duty, supporting their communities, and protecting all of us, day in, day out. Their contribution has been outstanding and must never be forgotten. Safe Streets for All On top of what is already a demanding job for them, every day a police officer goes to work could be a day in 6.8 pm which they have to face or to arrest an aggressive and The Secretary of State for the Home Department violent offender, listen to a child describe a sexual assault, (Priti Patel): It is a great honour to open this debate on make a split-second decision of immense consequence the Queen’s Speech. Protecting the public is the first or knock on a stranger’s door and tell them that their duty of any Government, and from day one as Home loved one has been killed. Even before the pandemic, it Secretary it has been my No. 1 priority. The law-abiding was high time for us to do more as a country to majority deserves nothing less, and everything we ever recognise their incredible sacrifice. do depends upon it: every time we walk down the street; every time we attend an event, a concert or a football Through the Bill, we will put into law a requirement match; each day when we send our children to school; on the Home Secretary to report annually to Parliament and even when we are at home. Our democracy, our on the police covenant. The new covenant sets out our prosperity, our communities and our liberties all depend commitment to enhance, support and protect those on an effective system of law and order. This Government working within, or retired from, policing roles—whether have made great progress. Thanks to a massive recruitment paid or as volunteers—and also their families. It is designed drive,thousands more police officers are in our communities to recognise the unique role played by our society by the tackling criminality and protecting the public. With our police workforce and will initially focus on health and backing, law enforcement has struck major blows against wellbeing, physical protection and family support. This county lines drug gangs and organised crime. We have Bill acknowledges the debt that we owe the police. brought forward landmark legislation to better protect The vast majority of the public in the country have and support millions of domestic abuse victims and nothing but respect and admiration for the police, and their children. We have overhauled terrorist sentencing yet our officers are subjected to abuse and violence. We and monitoring so that our outstanding police and will not tolerate that any longer. It is a disgraceful way security services can better address the threats that we to treat any human being. Any assault on a police face. officer is also an assault on the fabric of our society. It is We are far from done. Criminals and terrorists do not not enough to respect and admire the police in theory. stand still and neither will this Government. Our agenda This Bill backs them with the full force of the law and is ambitious and I make no apology for that. We were the maximum penalty for thugs who assault an emergency elected on a clear manifesto promise to keep this country worker will double to two years in prison. safe. We will build on the action that we have already taken. Serious violence has a corrosive impact on our communities and there is an urgent moral imperative to Mike Amesbury (Weaver Vale) (Lab): Will the Secretary tackle it. The police have a vital role and I am proud of State apologise for cutting nearly 22,000 police officers that there are now more bobbies on the beat. More than in the first place? 8,000 new officers have already been recruited as part of our campaign to recruit an additional 20,000. Priti Patel: The hon. Gentleman’scomment is irrelevant, We have invested more than £100 million over two as he failed to hear my first comment about protecting years to boost the operational response to violent crime. our citizens and about the investment that we have put As a result of that work, more than 100,000 weapons into policing. That investment is getting stronger and it have been taken off our streets. But as long as young is growing; we now have more than 8,000 new police lives are lost, families are left shattered and communities officers. Perhaps he would like to welcome the new are gripped by fear, and we must do more. Every time officers in his constituency. someone carries a knife or a weapon, they risk destroying We are giving our brave police officers the support lives—their own and others’. Reoffending remains a and the protection that they deserve as well as the significant problem, so the Bill will empower the police powers that they need to tackle crime and criminality. to take more proactive approaches, particularly in relation We are also taking back control of the country’s borders to known offenders, by introducing serious violence with a fair, but firm immigration system, restoring reduction orders. These targeted stop-and-search powers confidence in the criminal justice system and making will tackle high-risk individuals and act as a strong the punishment fit the crime, doing more to counter the deterrent. 453 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 454

Law enforcement is only part of the answer, though; committed serious crimes. We must also give offenders we must also do much more to prevent violent crimes. a fair start on the road to rehabilitation, so we will The Bill will introduce a serious violence duty that will introduce community sentences that are both tougher require the police, local authorities and others to work and more effective when it comes to addressing the together to address problems in their areas. Importantly, causes of offending. Our message to criminals remains it will undoubtedly save lives. When lives are lost, every simple: we will come for you. single lesson must be learned, so the Bill will introduce a Sir Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford requirement for formal homicide reviews to be considered Green) (Con): While my right hon. Friend is on sentencing following adult deaths involving offensive weapons. and what is not in the Bill, I wonder whether she, with The right to protest peacefully is woven into the fabric the Lord Chancellor sitting next to her, will give me this of our country’s history.It is a right that this Government undertaking. Could we find a mechanism, through the will always protect. That does not mean that the police Bill, to address the theft of pets, which has turned should be powerless to intervene when peaceful protests violent in many communities, including mine? It is not a are hijacked by chaos and disorder on our streets. joke—it is a serious set of offences and it is ill dealt with Before I turn to the measures that we are bringing by the sentencing process and in law. Will she give that forward, I must address some of the ugly scenes that we undertaking? saw across London over the weekend. There is never an excuse or justification for inciting antisemitism or hatred Priti Patel: I thank my right hon. Friend for his against any community or faith. Some of the language—the question. I think this comes back to the whole issue of chants and slogans—used by protestors and activists criminality. The issue of pet theft is incredibly sensitive. this weekend was unacceptable. In fact, it was racist. It is emotive and absolutely distressing—there is no The streets of London, our great capital city, saw people question about it. There is also a very serious underlying waving antisemitic placards comparing Israel with Nazi issue of violence. The types of tactics used demonstrate Germany. There were violent chants of “Kill the Jews”, why this Government are right to be tough on criminals along with many other abhorrent chants and rhetoric and criminality. Of course, my right hon. Friend is that I will not repeat. All this was shamefully supported absolutely right. We have established a taskforce and on social media—Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter were are looking at the appropriate measures that can be put awash with antisemitic and abusive content. in place. This Government are absolutely committed to dealing with this issue, along with much of the serious All right hon. and hon. Members will have seen the offending that I have already referred to. footage of the convoy of cars driving down the Finchley Road. That was nothing to do with Palestine or Israel; it Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD): Talking about violence was pure and simple antisemitism that sought to intimidate, and the safety of our streets, following Sarah Everard’s harass and frighten members of the Jewish community. murder and the outpouring of solidarity from women I am sickened by the behaviours that were witnessed across the UK calling for an end to all forms of violence over the weekend. In an open and free society, we of against women and girls, is it not time for the Government course all have the right to express our views openly, but to support the Our Streets Now campaign, which calls any free and open society must never turn a blind eye to for public sexual harassment to be made a specific appalling hatred, racism and antisemitism of the type criminal offence? witnessed over the weekend. Priti Patel: I thank the hon. Lady for her intervention. There is also never an excuse to exercise or direct I will come shortly to the issue of harassment and violence violence towards our police. Six police officers were against women and girls. She refers to an important injured following Saturday’s protest because of the utterly campaign. In fact, I have met some of the campaigners, disgraceful behaviour of a few. I stand by those officers, who are very young and speak of the most appalling who sought to support the right to a peaceful protest harassment, which we all agree is unacceptable. Along while enforcing the law against a criminal minority. with much of our work—I will come shortly to our In recent years, we have seen some protesters and approach—these are important issues that we must not groups use increasingly disruptive tactics that are a drain forget. on the public purse and result in police forces having to I have touched on criminality and the fact that this move officers away from their regular responsibilities. Government are absolutely robust and tough when it Protesters’ rights must be balanced against the right of comes to punishment for the worst offenders. But I am everyone else to go about their daily lives, so we are also sorry that I have to remind the House that the Labour introducing a modest reset of the police powers for the party has already chosen to vote against these measures. effective management of highly disruptive protests. Labour voted against tougher sentences for child murderers, It will uphold the right to freedom of speech and tougher sentences for sex offenders, the dozens of measures assembly while ensuring that people can go to work, to crack down on knife and violent crime—the very crime ambulances are unhindered and the free press can function that blights communities and leads to loss of life—as unimpeded. well as powers to protect emergency workers from assault, The Bill demonstrates the Government’s commitment and the delivery of better protection for victims and to a criminal justice system in which the British people witnesses in cases of violent and sexual offences. can have full confidence. Too often, the public could be Every time we give the Opposition the opportunity to forgiven for thinking that the rights of criminals trump stand on the side of the hard-working, law-abiding majority, the rights of victims. Sentencing is one of the few ways guess what? They choose the wrong side. What message in which the public, victims and offenders see justice does that send out to our police, to victims of crime and being done. We are delivering on our manifesto promise to the British people? As the results of the recent British by toughening punishment for the worst offenders and police and crime commissioner elections show, 70% of preventing automatic early release for those who have PCCs are now Conservative. People across the country 455 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 456

[Priti Patel] There is still more to do, and I am profoundly grateful for the extraordinary response we have received to our rejected Labour’s political games and voted for the call for evidence on violence against women and girls. It Conservative party—the authentic party of law and will mean that the public will have their voices heard, order in Britain—in those important elections. because that evidence will directly shape two ambitious strategies. This summer,we will publish a tackling violence Throughout my time in politics, I have seen at first against women and girls strategy, which will outline the hand how crime can devastate the lives of victims, their work across Government to prioritise prevention, support families and their communities. As the former co-chair victims and survivors, and pursue perpetrators. It will of the all-party parliamentary group on victims and be followed by a domestic abuse strategy, because the witnesses of crime, and now as Home Secretary, I scale of the problem is striking. have often seen people suffer enormously—physically, emotionally and financially—as a result of their experiences. Unlike most other types of crime, police-recorded I have spent too much time with grieving parents who domestic abuse-related offences increased between April have lost their children to violence and violent crime. and September 2020 as compared with the same period in 2019. The Government responded quickly during the Victims are at the very heart of the Government’s pandemic and provided more than £28 million to domestic approach. We will ensure that victims are supported abuse services that had been affected directly by the and have their rights recognised at every stage of the pandemic. Meanwhile, our “You Are Not Alone” public criminal justice system and beyond. We are investing awareness campaign has reached tens of millions of record amounts in victim support and have published a people. new victims code based on 12 key rights for every victim of crime. Yet we know that there is more to do to We know that for too many, home is not a safe place. transform the way in which victims are treated. We will That tragic reality has been even more profound throughout enshrine the new victims code in law and hold agencies the pandemic. Earlier this year we launched the “Ask to account in delivering victims’ rights. The victims for ANI” codeword scheme to provide direct support code is the culmination of two years of extensive work, for victims of domestic abuse through community including hearing directly from victims and victims pharmacies. Almost half of UK pharmacies, including groups. It gives us a comprehensive framework for Boots pharmacies, are now signed up to the scheme, effective legislation, and it is our intention to proceed and that is more than 5,000 places. I thank those without delay. Following a consultation later this year, pharmacies for their support and the protection they we will publish a draft Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny. are giving to women across the country. The scheme has provided support to women and men all over the UK, I want to see an institutional overhaul in the Government and at its peak it was being used on a daily basis. and society’s response to violence against women and I have outlined the ways in which we will make our girls. That was tragically and horrifically underlined by streets and our communities safer, but someone— the death of Sarah Everard earlier this year, and that anyone—can be targeted, harassed, abused or exploited terrible, terrible case prompted an outpouring of grief without leaving their home. That is why we are taking and a sharing of experiences across the country from world-leading action to protect the public online, as women and girls. Let me be crystal clear: no one—no well as offline. Our landmark online safety Bill will be a one at all—should be made to feel unsafe when walking game changer in internet safety. It will usher in a new our streets. No one should feel the need to speed up era of accountability for online platforms that will increase when they hear footsteps behind them. No one should protection for children, crack down on racist hate crimes, have to be on the phone or pretend to be on the phone prevent the spread of terrorist content and tackle online to deter potential attackers. scams. Technology firms will be forced to report online I must also pay my respects to Kent police PCSO child abuse on their platforms—a crucial change that Julia James. My thoughts and the thoughts of everyone will give law enforcement the evidence that it needs to in the House will be with her family, her friends and her bring perpetrators to justice. Companies that fail in the colleagues at what has been a truly awful time. Every new duty of care will rightly face hefty fines. I also want decent person in our country is sick of abhorrent violence, to assure the House that the Bill includes measures to abuse and harassment in our society. Our landmark safeguard freedom of expression and democracy. Domestic Abuse Act 2021 will strengthen our collective Technology companies will no longer be able to arbitrarily response to these horrendous crimes across the criminal remove content, and users will be given a right to justice system and society by strengthening protections escalate an appeal if they do. for victims while ensuring that perpetrators feel the full This Government were also elected to improve the force of the law. UK’s safety and security by taking back control of our For too long, the experiences of rape victims in the borders and properly enforcing our immigration laws. system have been insensitive, so we are carrying out a We have already delivered on our promises on legal comprehensive rape review. It will rightly look at the migration. Despite opposition from the open borders entire experiences of rape victims at every stage of how party opposite, we have ended free movement, introduced the criminal justice system handles cases, from the the British points-based immigration system and started police report to the final outcome at court. Everyone to speed up the removal of those with no right to be in must learn and understand that complex and traumatic the UK. crimes such as rape must be handled with care and empathy, supported by effective processes that will give Munira Wilson (Twickenham) (LD): The Queen’sSpeech victims faith and confidence in our justice system. Further made no mention of EU citizens’ rights, but more than details of the review will be announced by my right hon. 300,000 have still not had their settled status processed Friend the Lord Chancellor. by the Home Office. What assurance can the Home 457 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 458

Secretary give those people that their applications will Priti Patel: My hon. Friend makes an important be processed before the end of June deadline, and that if point. He will see when the Bill is introduced some of they are not, that they will not be subject to the hostile the loopholes and the way in which even the landmark environment? Modern Slavery Act is sadly being abused by criminal gangs and traffickers. There is an important point that Priti Patel: I am actually grateful to the hon. Lady for we must address. We will continue to support those who her intervention, because she gives me the opportunity flee persecution and those who become victims of gangs to speak about the success of the EU settled status and criminals. Those important elements will be part of scheme,which has now given settled status to approximately the legislation. We want to get it right because we must 5 million people. The Government were mocked when absolutely stop the level of criminality that is taking we launched the scheme; we were told that we would place. That very much speaks to the fact that the current never even reach 3 million. To answer her question system is not fit for purpose and justice is being delayed specifically, intensive work is taking place across the for those with genuine and important asylum claims. country to reach some hard-to-reach communities, Judicial and court resources are overstretched and our particularly because of the pandemic. Many of the new plan for immigration will address that. outreach programmes had stopped, but we are now The Bill will ensure that the system does not reward going back into communities and also reaching out to those who enter the UK illegally and through those diaspora communities. We are also working with local appalling illicit means. Those who have travelled through authorities to reach out to communities, and children in a safe country where they could reasonably have claimed particular, to ensure that their registration takes place. asylum, such as France or Belgium, are now inadmissible Extensive work is taking place in this area. in the UK asylum system. For the first time, whether I was about to speak about our proposals to address people enter the UK legally or illegally will have an the illegal side of migration. Illegal migration causes impact on how their asylum claim is progressed, and on real harm and endangers the lives of those undertaking their status in the UK if their claim is successful. We many dangerous and perilous journeys, more often will create a new and expanded one-stop-shop process than not in the hands of smugglers and people traffickers. so that asylum, human rights and any other protection The number of people crossing the English channel in claims are made and considered up front at the beginning small boats reached record levels last summer. People of the process, ending the cycle of limitless appeals in smugglers trade in human misery. Not only do these our courts. gangs exploit and hurt desperate people, but they are As I have made clear, the Government will do whatever responsible for other illicit activities ranging from drugs it takes to protect the public, and that also applies to and firearms trafficking to serious violent crime. They our national security. This year, we implemented the must be brought to task. largest shake-up of terrorist sentencing and monitoring The House will recall that earlier this year I launched in decades. The Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act our new plan for immigration. It is underpinned by the 2021 gives the courts, the police, the probation service principle that access to the UK’s asylum system should and the security services greater powers to protect the be based on need and not on the ability to pay people public. The public rightly expect that we are always smugglers. Nobody thinking rationally could object to looking for ways to strengthen our national security. that. Our new Bill will help to deliver that plan, which That includes responding to the growing and evolving will increase the fairness and efficacy of our system. threats and risk posed by other states. It will better protect those in need of genuine asylum. It States that engage in hostile activity are becoming will deter illegal entry into the UK, break the business more assertive in how they advance their objectives and model of criminal traffickers and their networks, and undermine our own. Their tactics are markedly different save lives. It will also make it easier to remove people from those used by other adversaries. While the methods with no right to be in the country, including dangerous deployed by terrorists often rely on grabbing the public’s foreign criminals. attention, states conducting hostile activity against us Those who come to the UK legally to work hard and typically seek to operate in the shadows and remain contribute to our national life will always be welcome, hidden. We need to be constantly alert to espionage, but those who abuse that welcome by committing crimes political and electoral interference,sabotage,disinformation, will be deported. So far this year, more than 650 foreign cyber-operations and intellectual property theft. Though national offenders have been removed from the UK; those acts fall short of open conflict, the consequences that means fewer foreign murderers, rapists and drug for our democracy and our economic security and dealers on our streets. While those on the Opposition prosperity are a real and present threat. Benches will do everything they can to stop us, we will To address that, we will introduce a counter-state persevere, because this is what the British people rightly threats Bill that modernises and updates existing espionage expect of their Government. This country and this laws, and creates new offences, tools and powers to Government have a proud record of helping those who detect, disrupt and deter hostile activity in the UK and face persecution, oppression and tyranny, and we will actively targeted at the UK. It will also improve our always stand by our legal and moral obligations to ability to protect official data. Many of the Official innocent people fleeing persecution. Secrets Acts date back to the early 20th century, with their roots in the 1889 Act. They are simply no longer Anthony Mangnall (Totnes) (Con): I am sorry to suitable for the modern world we live in. We will therefore interrupt my right hon. Friend, but she touches on an reform the Official Secrets Acts of 1911, 1920, 1939 and important point relating to modern slavery. Will she say 1989. Legislation will also include the creation of a to the House whether that means an intention to reform foreign influence registration scheme. That is an important the Modern Slavery Act 2015 to include supply chains new tool to combat espionage and interference and and investments? protect research in sensitive subject areas. 459 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 460

[Priti Patel] We all rightly stood and clapped frontline workers, but the sound of applause does not pay bills. It is wrong On 13 May, I published a public consultation on the —totally wrong—that this Government have time and Government’slegislative proposals to counter state threats, again praised the work of frontline workers but refused which includes seeking views about the reform of treason to give them the fair pay rise that they deserve. This has laws. The response to this consultation will help to been a time of national sacrifice and none has risked shape the new tools and powers so that they are their life more than those who serve on our frontline. I comprehensive, effective and workable, and, importantly, have visited police stations and heard about our frontline will protect our national security along with our rights officers putting themselves at risk to help others, not and our values. knowing who or what they will encounter when they are As we emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, we are out on the beat. I have spoken to firefighters and heard determined to build back safer. This Government will about the sacrifices they have made, delivering food continue to deliver on the people’s priorities. The British parcels and personal protective equipment, driving covid public back the police and want to see more police officers patients to hospitals, and, very sadly, moving bodies. Yet in their communities, and we are delivering on that. they face a threat to the collective bargaining body that They want us to take back our country’s borders, and protects firefighters’ rights. Again, Labour Members we are delivering on that. They want us to ensure that call on the Government to think again: to reward our key criminals are properly punished for breaking our laws, workers and, as a first step, revisit the deeply unfair pay and we are delivering on that. Where further action is freeze for those who have served so bravely during the needed to make our streets, our people and communities pandemic. safe, we will take it. As Home Secretary, I am driven by As we consider the measures in this Queen’s Speech, a simple goal, which is to do the right thing by the it is clear that yet again, under this Conservative law-abiding majority of our great country. That means Government, there is no shortage of rhetoric but a clear supporting our police and others whose job it is to keep commitment to action is missing. Talking tough and us safe, defeating the criminals and criminal gangs, failing to act has been a trademark of this Government’s securing our borders and removing those with no right 11 years in office. Under this Government, victims have to be here, protecting our national security, and taking been failed and the public has been failed. Rape convictions the strongest possible action against those who wish to have fallen to a record low, with just one in every harm us. The measures that I have outlined today will 100 reported rapes even getting to a court. Fraud has help us to achieve just that, and this Government will rocketed, with 4.4 million victims in the last year.Hundreds always put the safety of the British people first. of thousands of police records have been lost, and we Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing): It still have no idea if they will all be recovered. Antisocial may be helpful for colleagues to know that there will behaviour reports have soared by 5 million over the past initially be a time limit of five minutes on Back-Bench decade. Assaults on police officers went up 40% during speeches but I would expect that to reduce in due the lockdown, and court delays are now so bad that course. criminals are not facing justice in the way they should be. It is a litany of failure. 6.41 pm At the same time, the services that are so vital to Nick Thomas-Symonds (Torfaen) (Lab): It is a privilege preventing so many of these appalling acts from happening to open this debate for the Opposition at a critical in the first place have been cut to the bone over the past moment for our country. 11 years. There has been a £1.4 billion cut in youth services, 750 youth centres have closed, and more than First, I would like to reiterate what I said during the 4,500 youth workers have been lost. Mental health urgent question earlier and to condemn absolutely the services are so stretched that people desperately in need vile, antisemitic, sickening, misogynistic abuse we saw of support are left abandoned, at risk to themselves and on the streets of London. That behaviour is never others. The Government’stotal mess on probation services acceptable, and I hope that a strong message goes out means that probation officers have one hand tied behind from right across this House that we abhor it. I send their backs and are doing their best to carry on the vital best wishes for a swift recovery to the six police officers job of tackling reoffending. It is a shameful record. who were injured. I would also like to say that the thoughts of those on the Labour Benches are with the The tough talk continued in this Queen’s Speech, but family of PCSO Julia James. I commend Kent police for the reality is, frankly, different. In reality, this Government the work that they have done on that investigation. are soft on crime and soft on the causes of crime. The I give thanks, on behalf of all Labour Members, for truth is that under this Government, criminals have the remarkable service that those on the frontline have never had it so good, and it is little wonder that the given during this crisis. Our police officers, firefighters, statistics are so dire with the huge cuts the Government emergency services, health and social care workers, have made to policing. We have seen police numbers shop workers, transport workers and local government plummet since 2010, with 21,000 officers lost across the workers—indeed, all those on the frontline—have shown country and police staff lost as well. We have had a incredible bravery and dedication in the face of a deadly Conservative Government for over a decade who were virus. It has been sobering and it has been inspiring. I content to sit back and see violence rise and police pay tribute, too, to all those who lost their lives to this numbers fall while the Home Office’s own research was awful virus in carrying out their duties. It is a devastating showing them that the police cuts were linked to levels loss for so many families for whom life will never quite of crime. Of course, I welcome more police on our be the same again. Those who put themselves in harm’s streets, but the Government uplift programme will not way to keep us safe are the best of us, and we thank even replace the officers lost since 2010, and what about them for their service. the police staff lost as well, who play such a vital role? 461 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 462

The harsh reality is that this Government’s failure our frontline workers when we said that we would be has had a devastating impact on people’s lives. Rocketing tougher on sentences, why did his party vote against antisocial behaviour,with millions more instances recorded, that? Why did it not say that it would take the Bill to mean that lives, often of the most vulnerable in our Committee and reform it, or at least come up with a communities, are made a misery. The violence on our sensible idea rather than carping from the side? streets and in homes, soaring right across the country, has had devastating consequences, taking and ruining Nick Thomas-Symonds: On the hon. Gentleman’s first far too many lives and causing unimaginable heartache point, just like I will listen to voters in parts of England, for families. Let us be under no illusion: while rising I hope that he will listen to the voters in Wales, where we crime affects everyone in society, it is often those who won three of the four police and crime commissioners are struggling most in our communities who are hardest and a Labour Government achieved the best result in hit, with our poorest neighbourhoods disproportionately elections since the advent of devolution, showing that impacted on by crime. That is the record of this Labour in power actually works. [Interruption.] He Government. scoffs at the voters of Wales. I think he should seriously look at the message that they are sending to him. What we see in this Queen’s Speech is a warped sense of priorities. This is a Government who are more interested On the hon. Gentleman’s second point, on the Police, in preventing people from voting than they are in preventing Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, Government Members crime. This Queen’s Speech should have focused on know perfectly well that they could have had a Bill that addressing rising crime, bringing perpetrators to justice found consensus across this House. Instead, they chose and keeping people safe, but, sadly, what I see is a raft of to introduce divisive elements on protest and on proposed measures in this Queen’s Speech that, I fear, discrimination against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller are about sounding tough but fail to rise to the scale of communities that made that impossible. He knows that, the challenge. and Ministers know it too. Let me turn to the measures that have been announced. Indeed, there are measures in the Bill on death by On fire safety, we will, of course, look carefully at the dangerous driving, for example, championed by my role of the proposed building safety regulator, but the hon. Friends the Members for Barnsley East (Stephanie reality is that thousands of people continue to live in Peacock), for Barnsley Central (Dan Jarvis), for St Helens dangerous buildings nearly four years after the tragedy South and Whiston (Ms Rimmer) and for Bradford of Grenfell. Before Parliament prorogued, the Government, South (Judith Cummins), who worked on a cross-party on four separate occasions, whipped their MPs to vote basis with the former Prime Minister, the right hon. against amendments that would have ensured that Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May). There is the part remediation costs would not be passed on to leaseholders. of the Bill on positions of trust, where we extend the Instead of listening to my hon. Friend the Member for scope of protections against those who perpetrate sexual Croydon Central (Sarah Jones), the Government chose relationships with young people under 18. Again, that to look the other way. I have met those who are still had a cross-party genesis, with my hon. Friend the Member living in those buildings with dangerous cladding—very for Rotherham (Sarah Champion) working with the moving it was as well—and I can tell Ministers that hon. Member for Chatham and Aylesford (Tracey Crouch). what they want is action, not more words. That too could be widened, to include driving instructors and music tutors. I credit my right hon. Friend the Let me turn to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Member for Warley (John Spellar) for securing changes Bill, carried over from the last Session. Of course, there to the Disclosure and Barring Service. are some elements of that Bill that the Labour party not only supports but campaigned for. My hon. Friends the There are some long overdue parts of the Bill that deal Members for Rhondda (Chris Bryant) and for Halifax with disproportionality,such as the use of problem-solving (HollyLynch)introduced“protecttheprotectors”legislation courts, recognising remand of children as a last resort, to increase the maximum sentence for assaults on emergency and reform of the criminal records disclosure regime, but service workers. The Home Secretary boasted at the the reality is that those things go nowhere near far Dispatch Box about increasing that to two years. The enough. I was challenged about what Labour would do. Government could have done that three years ago; The Lammy review, which sets out 35 recommendations, when they were asked to do so by my hon. Friends, they has sat on the Government’s shelf since 2017. They need would not do it. Indeed, we believe that the Government to implement it. [Interruption.] The Lord Chancellor should now look at protecting the pandemic heroes and knows very well that they are not implementing the extend protections to shop workers as well as other vital 35 recommendations. I would be quite happy to go frontline workers and social care staff. through all 35 with him. We are also glad to see long overdue work on the On the Government’s proposed legislation on race police covenant. I put on the record my praise for the and ethnic disparity, I am deeply concerned, since it work of John Apter and the Police Federation, campaigning now seems to be their position that structural racism hard to deliver this much-needed change. However, we does not even exist. With that view, we cannot trust this will be pushing hard to ensure that this is not a paper Government to bring forward measures so desperately exercise but a real step forward for police that helps to needed to tackle structural racism. That lack of trust is protect their health and, vitally, their mental health and shown in the way the Home Office has so badly mishandled wellbeing. the Windrush compensation scheme. [Interruption.] The Home Secretary shouts “Rubbish”, but I have Anthony Mangnall: Clearly the right hon. Gentleman spoken to the victims who have been treated so badly. was asleep during the local elections, when we won I have spoken to people who have waited years for 10 more police and crime commissioners, showing that payments, forced to fight back against insulting offers, the general public view us as tough on crime. If he is and people whose family members have passed away going to stand there and say that we are not supporting before compensation was received. 463 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 464

[Nick Thomas-Symonds] approach to the security threat posed by Russia, finding that the Government had “badly underestimated” the Now, the Home Secretary says “Rubbish”; these are Russian threat and the response it required. her statistics. She promised to speed up the process. On We thank our security services for the work they do, 21 April, 1,417 cases were being processed. Five hundred but they need more support. The Russia report concluded of them had been ongoing for over a year, and others that previous changes in resourcing to counter Russian had been in the system for over two years. Those are the hostile state activity are not, or not only, due to a Home Secretary’s own statistics. That slow progress continuing escalation of the threat, but appear to be an piles injustice upon injustice. indicator of “playing catch up”. We cannot keep playing Let me come to the crackdown on protest. Where our catch-up, which is why we have long called for the existing laws are sufficient, it is wrong-headed and recommendations of the Russia report to be implemented. dangerous. The right to protest is a precious part of our It is why we have consistently criticised the actions of democracy that should be treasured, not trashed. At the the Government of China against the Uyghur and on same time,the measures against unauthorised encampments the security law in Hong Kong. We will look at this would further discriminate against our Gypsy, Traveller long-delayed legislation closely, and seek to work and Roma communities, in breach of the Human Rights constructively to bring about the changes needed to Act and of the Equality Act. guard against not just the threats of today, but the fast-emerging global threats to our democracy. Another area in which the Government’s poor record is matched by their lack of ambition is addressing As we look at the UK’s role in the world, I want to violence against women and girls, which remains a stain turn to the new plan for immigration. I do not disagree on our society. The tragic death of Sarah Everard drew that the asylum system is too slow: the reason for that is attention in the starkest terms to the desperate need for the Conservative party, which has run the immigration change that so many of us have long been calling for. As system for the past 11 years. The share of asylum a society, and as men in particular, we must do better by applications that received an initial decision within listening to the outpouring of powerful testimonies, six months fell from 87% in 2014 to 20% in 2019. That is but—more importantly—by acting. The Police, Crime, the Conservative record, and we have seen an approach Sentencing and Courts Bill was rightly exposed for the from Ministers that lacks both competence and compassion. shameful way in which it overlooked reforms that people There has been a huge surge in the number of dangerous have been crying out for, and I pay tribute to all those crossings in small boats from France, but where is the who have spoken up so powerfully: my colleagues my comprehensive deal with France to deal with it? The hon. Friends the Members for Croydon Central and for Department for International Development, which was Birmingham, Yardley (Jess Phillips) and my right hon. the very Department that addressed the causes of people Friend the Member for Tottenham (Mr Lammy), and being displaced from their homes in the first place, has all those across these Benches and the House who have been abolished. Safe routes such as the Dubs scheme said, “Enough is enough”. have closed down; the Dubs scheme closed after just a few hundred children, when everyone expected it to There is deep anger and frustration about the scale of help 3,000. That is not the way to tackle the issue or the the challenge and the glacial speed of action. We have heinous crime of people trafficking. had several strategies announced in the past by the At the same time, we have seen people housed in Government, and in the Queen’s Speech we have had overcrowded accommodation that represented a the announcement of the violence against women and fundamental failure of leadership and planning at the girls strategy, but with no timescale or proposed action. Home Office, leading to a dangerous covid outbreak Today, Labour is proposing action, and we published and putting vulnerable people, staff and neighbouring our proposals this morning: a rape survivors plan, with communities at risk. support needed from start to finish; cases of rape and serious sexual violence fast-tracked through the system From what we have seen of the plans so far, they will and a Minister tasked with the responsibility of driving do next to nothing to stop people making crossings. change through; tougher sentences for rape, stalking They risk withdrawing support from vulnerable people, and domestic homicide, including reviewing sentences including victims of human trafficking. Nor do this for all domestic abuse; and a new law on street harassment. Government show any sign of delivering the international We need to ensure that all police forces have specialist agreements they require for their measures. Yet again, teams of rape and serious sexual assault officers in Conservative failure will be hard-wired into the system. place to support victims and drive up conviction rates; On the issue of borders, the lax measures against covid to remove the legal barriers that prevent any victim of have been frankly negligent. The Government were late domestic abuse getting the help they need, such as to introduce formal quarantining, they failed to have an barriers to legal aid and no recourse to public funds; effective home quarantining system, and they were late and a victims Bill with the victim at the heart of the to introduce border testing and hotel quarantining —and system, supported through the process and afterwards. even then, only 1% of arrivals actually stayed in hotels. Let us see no more strategies and limited pilot schemes: Like everyone across the House, I am deeply worried let us see the action that is long overdue. by the sharp increase in the covid variant cases in Bolton, On the counter-state threats Bill, the warnings for Blackburn, Darwen and other parts of the country. action could not have been clearer: citizens poisoned on Cases have almost doubled in the past four days. If our own streets, attempts to subvert our democracy, there is one thing we have learned from this awful virus, and London becoming a laundromat for dirty money. it is its ability to spread rapidly. The Intelligence and Security Committee’s report on We should never have been in this position. We have Russia could hardly have delivered a more damning been warning the Government for months of the reckless indictment of deep, systemic failings in the Government’s risks they have been taking with their half-baked border 465 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 466 measures. [Interruption.] The Home Secretary shakes I agree with my hon. Friend the Member for Totnes her head, but she has been on video making clear her (Anthony Mangnall)—the Home Secretary knows that disagreement with the Government’s approach to the I have spoken to her about this—on the need to allow borders. We called a vote in this House in February on people who have a legitimate reason to be here as a comprehensive hotel quarantining, but the Conservative result of modern-day slavery to stay here for longer and party refused to back our plans, which would have given to make their case. I hope that will be borne out in the us the best chance of stopping strains reaching the UK. legislation, which she knows we have spoken about. Instead, the variants first discovered in India, Brazil However, I would like today to turn to something and South Africa have all reached the UK, with outbreaks that is not in my right hon. Friend’s brief—but this is occurring. the debate on the Queen’s Speech, and it is in the India was added to the red list only after cases had Queen’s Speech—which is planning. I am going to make already been detected in the UK back in February. By a point that I dare say one or two of my colleagues may 5 April, India was reporting more than 100,000 new covid do, which is that I have deep concerns about some of cases a day, and neighbouring countries Pakistan and the Government’s proposed planning changes. I will Bangladesh were added to the red list on 9 April. mention some of the key issues. As cases rocketed in India, No. 10 kept saying that the We all know that we need more homes, but it is planned visit by the Prime Minister, which was scheduled important to understand what type of homes and to for 25 April, would go ahead. It was not until 19 April that think about how we treat some of our communities. It is No. 10 cancelled the trip to India—the same day that the propensity of many local authorities in far too the Health Secretary announced that India would be many areas to just dump down large tower blocks to added to the red list. That measure came into force on meet their numbers, but those blocks are completely out 23 April. of keeping with areas made up of family homes in It has been reported that during that time of dither which many people live. We need to think about that and delay, more than 20,000 travellers from India entered very carefully. the country. The Prime Minister has serious questions I am worried about the ability of the Government, to answer about the suggestions that he delayed adding which they will preserve for themselves in the new India to the red list because of the planned visit. legislation, to override local plans or growth plans, and Ministers must learn the lessons, act more cautiously about the fact that we may lose any planning application now on the reopening of international travel, and make in the process, which people will not, therefore, be able their border protections effective. Yet again, it is the to oppose. That will take away powers—what are very same theme: Ministers talk tough but fail to take action small powers, in a way—from local communities. I want to keep people safe. Sadly, that is the story of this the Government to think again about that. Government: tough rhetoric; little effective action. At I also want the Government to think again about the the same time, violence has been on the rise, affecting all general development management policies, which I think our communities; neighbourhood policing has been cut will draw an unprecedented amount of power to central to the bone; our democracy has been left vulnerable to Government, with their ability to dictate the areas that hostile state action; and we have an immigration system will see growth and the type of growth they will see. devoid of compassion and competence. That will not be too welcome among our constituents, What we needed was a bold vision for security in our and I want my hon. Friends to think carefully about it. country and safety on our streets. Instead, the legislative Overriding residents in these new designated growth agenda set out in this Queen’s Speech merely repeats a zones will be a real problem. Even now,in many places, the pattern of failure, and it is the British people who are idea of building these out-of-keeping tower blocks is a left to pay the price. major problem, but it is one that will grow even more because we will simply allow local authorities to do it. The extended personal development rights are also a 7.3 pm problem, because they will not only allow businesses to Sir Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford be turned into flats, but allow developers to build upwards Green) (Con): Given that I have a limited amount of —that is my understanding—without any commitment time, I will try to make some progress. to local facilities such as schools and roads. That goes There is much in the Queen’s Speech that I support against the purpose of planning in the first place. I raise and welcome. I welcome the statements of my right that point with my hon. Friends, and I hope that that hon. Friend the Home Secretary on the Police, Crime, will not be the case. Sentencing and Courts Bill, which is long overdue. I Finally,I hope that during this Session, the Government also welcome the introduction of the taskforce on violence will address the issue of those poor leaseholders who against women and girls—a vital area in which it is clear live in flats that had cladding installed on them—cladding that so many people need action. The Bill’s stronger that was illegal at the time it was installed—that they sentences for child murderers, rapists, violent offenders, now have to pay to get rid of. We need to resolve this. dangerous drivers, child abusers, memorial desecraters, There are many poor leaseholders who are going to house burglars, drunk drivers and knife carriers are all suffer huge bills for cladding that—little did they know well overdue. It is to my right hon. Friend’s credit that when they bought or became leaseholders of those the Bill is being brought through the House. Protection flats—was actually the wrong cladding from the word of the police is another important feature, with an go. Developers need to ante up and pay for that, and the increase in the maximum available sentence for assaulting Government need to drive that forward. an emergency worker from 12 months to two years. However, I do welcome the Queen’s Speech overall. I All those measures are vital, as are the new plans welcome the Home Secretary’s excellent speech and her on immigration. excellent promotion of her legislation. She will receive 467 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 468

[Sir Iain Duncan Smith] The policing Bill will see protest clamped down on, based on an obscure Law Commission consultation my response and my support throughout all that, but I that barely achieved a double-digit response and did do urge the Government to deal with the problems on not make reference to protest a single time. Whereas planning and to deal with the developers over cladding. previously we could look to the courts to protect Parliament against Prorogation and people against the Government overreaching legality—something the Home Office has 7.8 pm a particularly bad track record on—the Government Stuart C. McDonald (Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and are now going after the courts and judges too, with their Kirkintilloch East) (SNP) [V]: It is a pleasure to take attack on judicial review. part in this debate, albeit remotely. However, much of This Queen’s Speech is spectacularly troubling and what is proposed in the Queen’s Speech is more about illustrates everything that is wrong with the broken British protecting this Government and their Ministers than constitution, in which outdated notions of parliamentary about protecting the public. It includes rolling back the supremacy mean that there is no such thing as protected power of our courts to halt unlawful Government action, rights, and an archaic Westminster system in which a clampdown on protest, ripping up the refugee convention nothing is safe from a Government-stacked Parliament and measures tantamount to voter suppression. interested only in entrenching Government power. Yet when it comes to the big problems that we need to In 2021, there are two incredibly significant anniversaries address to keep people safe, key questions are completely in the sphere of home affairs, which highlight everything ducked. In particular,as we approach its 50th anniversary, that is wrong with what the Home Office is doing and there was not so much as a glimmer of hope that the failing to do. I refer to the refugee convention, which is Government might look again at the hopelessly dated approaching its 70th birthday, and the Misuse of Drugs Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the utterly failed war on Act, which is approach its 50th. First, on the Bill that drugs. In reality, if we want safe streets, the Conservative will trash the refugee convention—what a contrast with party is the last place we should turn. Its relentless the cross-party legislation that saw refugees voting in austerity obsession has hit policing, courts and prisons the Scottish Parliament election a little over a week hard, and its Brexit obsession has excluded us from vital ago—the Home Secretary seems determined to ride a European justice and security measures, such as the coach and horses through long-established principles of Schengen information system II. On the contrary, it is international refugee law that have stood the test of this Government that we need to be kept safe from, as time. She wants to raise the standard of proof required they seek to strip us of our rights and civil liberties. This of asylum seekers above that set out in the convention, is not a party of law and order, but a party that despite the incredible challenges of evidencing persecution undermines the rule of law. in the country the asylum seeker has had to flee. On Thursday, the Home Office was endangering Instead of being granted refugee status, those accepted the citizens of Glasgow with its stubborn, totally as being at risk of persecution will face a life in limbo disproportionate and utterly intransigent attempt to for up to 10 years, with family reunion rights restricted, dawn-raid two neighbours from Kenmure Street, despite and will be left to languish without recourse to public it being absolutely apparent that it was never going to funds. The less fortunate will already have been removed be able to effect that, thanks to the determined and to an apparently unrestricted list of countries to have peaceful community resistance. The timing and location their claim assessed there, with no consideration of the of the raid, as well as the secrecy around it, were at best risk of onward removal to a country of persecution. staggeringly insensitive and at worst deliberately provocative. Many more will have to await decisions not in dispersed It was a striking, but far from isolated, example of the community accommodation but in horrendous institutional Home Office at its aggressive worst, and light years venues along the lines of Penally and Napier barracks. away from the reformed institution that we have repeatedly Surely the Home Secretary will have thought twice been promised since Windrush. If the Home Office has about that, given the shocking outcome of her deliberate listened and learned from those events, it will undertake decision to cram people into dormitory accommodation no immigration enforcement activity in Glasgow without at the height of the pandemic, totally against the public the express and advance knowledge of Police Scotland. health advice she was offered. She put people at risk Critically, such activity must be contemplated only if and hundreds fell ill, but far from being apologetic, she strictly and genuinely necessary for reasons of public appears to be doubling down. safety, and if all alternatives have been exhausted. The Home Secretary talks about clamping down on people smugglers, but the proposals have nothing to do The whole direction of travel indicated by this Queen’s with people smugglers. This is clamping down on refugees Speech is deeply troubling, but it continues the trend of themselves and punishing victims of persecution because the past decade. Charities have been gagged from criticising of how they arrived in the UK, making an example of the Government. The grave restrictions to legal aid them, making them miserable and ruining their life introduced in 2012 continue to threaten access to justice chances in an attempt to discourage others from following. and undermine the rule of law in England and Wales. It will not work, it will put the system under greater We have lost the valuable rights and protections that we strain and it is utterly immoral. If every Government had as EU citizens. Human rights remain in the took the same pass-the-buck approach as this one, the Government’s crosshairs, and now even the right to vote international system of refugee protection would break is to be undermined in moves that soon-to-be Baroness down entirely.So I plead with Conservative MPs—sensible Ruth Davidson recently described as Conservative MPs—to persuade the Home Secretary to “a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist” think again. If not, please stop talking about Britain’sproud and “for the birds”—indeed, she used some stronger history of welcoming refugees, because she will have terminology that I suspect is not parliamentary. trashed that history, along with the refugee convention. 469 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 470

If that is a disastrous proposal in this speech, the dreadful year there seemed to be an added salience to disastrous error of omission is the failure to reform the this excellent Queen’s Speech. We will be judged on the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 or even just acknowledge success of this programme: on how quickly we can help that review of it is urgent and essential. We are less than people return to their normal lives, restoring their liberties, a fortnight away from that piece of legislation reaching abolishing emergency powers and allowing them and its 50th birthday. The nature of the drugs trade and their families the freedoms to go about their daily lives, drug use has changed dramatically over that time, as free from government diktat. In essence, this means that has our understanding of it, but our legislative approach we can reinstate some common sense and personal is stuck in the past. Across the UK more than 3 million autonomy, without there being government instruction people have taken drugs in the past year, and almost on every aspect of citizens’ daily lives and without the 30,000 young people have been drawn into drug-related constant financial bail-outs. gangs. Drug-related deaths are at record levels. Our most deprived communities are suffering most. The Equally, the culture of the Government must change. Government know all that but resist the required It needs to change from one of preventing people from fundamental change in approach. Yes, there is important doing things to one of encouraging citizens to take their work to be done through investing in treatment and own action and decide what is best for them and their addressing the underlying issues that have led to drug families. It is very good to see my right hon. Friend the use in the first place, but it can never be the complete Home Secretary introduce the Police, Crime, Sentencing answer while that out-of-date legislation remains in and Courts Bill. The timing of that could not be more place. International best practice shows that there is a urgent, after the completely unacceptable violent better way. antisemitism we saw over the weekend. Regardless of people’s view on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, there is That international best practice has informed cross-party simply no justification whatsoever for antisemitism in Committees, including the Select Committee on Health our society. My right hon. Friend is also introducing and Social Care and the Select Committee on Scottish one of the most significant overhauls of the asylum Affairs, calling for the Act to be reviewed and reformed. system in decades, which I wholeheartedly agree with. Both are clear: responsibility and policy should lie with We need a fair, long-term system that will work for this the Department of Health and Social Care, not the country. Home Office. This needs a singular, focused, public health approach. Both say that safe drug consumption rooms In essence, I believe that education ought to be the should be implemented or at least piloted. They save number one priority, giving everyone the best possible lives and reduce harm; they assist in ensuring that those education at any stage of their life, as it opens up who need it most can access support and treatment; opportunity and careers that can improve their lives. It and they protect the public from antisocial and dangerous is the best route out of poverty and should be available public injection and drug-related litter. Both Committees to all. An important priority should be to expand also say that there should at least be consultation about the support for children of all ages to compensate for their decriminalisation of possession, because the international lost learning time during the pandemic. There is a huge evidence shows that it leads to less problematic drug use programme in the Queen’s Speech to help to recover and less harm as a result. These reductions flow from that lost learning, recognising that the disruption this not just international best practice, but the experiences year has had a major impact on our children’s learnings and insights of those working on the frontline here in and lives, and including, importantly, catch-up classes the UK and it is a tragedy that the Government will not in the summer. even debate this. Sensible voices from all parts of the House must push the Government to think again. The Government are committed to helping people to buy if they want to and they have committed to an In conclusion, the Government’s failure to think again ambitious target of 300,000 new houses by the mid-2020s. is all too typical of Home Office policymaking under However,as a representative of one of the most important the Conservatives, as exemplified by the Queen’s Speech. and unique areas of outstanding natural beauty, I am This is not policy based on evidence or best practice; it extremely concerned about some aspects of the planning is a rehash of failed policies from the past. Nor is it Bill. It is the biggest overhaul to the planning system in policy that reflects the values or interests of this country; 70 years. There are some positive proposals in the Bill it is head-in-the-sand policy that helps only the drugs and the planning system does need modernising. Home pushers and people smugglers. Nor is it policy in the ownership needs to be an attainable aim, especially for long-term interests of the UK, never mind Scotland; young people. However, for areas such as the Cotswolds, rather, it serves the perceived short-term political interests there needs to be an absolute commitment to protect of the Home Secretary and her Government. That is the AONB. why we regret very much what is in the Queen’s Speech and what is strikingly absent from it. The proposal to abolish section 106 and the community infrastructure levy should speed up the planning process, and it is important that the money is retained locally so 7.17 pm that the infrastructure can be built at the same time as Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (The Cotswolds) (Con): developments.However,the algorithm to calculate housing Madam Deputy Speaker, it was wonderful to see Her need was a great concern to many of my constituents, as Majesty in the other place last Tuesday giving the the Cotswolds had one of the highest proposed increased Gracious Speech, announcing the Government’s priorities housing targets anywhere. There is a real danger, as my for this year, and I am grateful to you and to the House right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford for giving me the opportunity to participate in this Green (Sir Iain Duncan Smith) said, that it will simply important debate. We have today reached step 3 of the be replaced by a zonal planning system, foreshadowed road map out of lockdown, and as we recover from this in the White Paper, which will mean that all land will 471 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 472

[Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown] of work that everyone has done supporting the vaccine programme and following restrictions, we have the deeply have to be designated as either growth for renewal or frustrating situation in which progress has slowed and protected areas, and that could be enforced through the been put at risk by the failure of the Government’s border local planning system. measures to prevent the spread of the Indian variant As I have said to the House before, the most important across the country. Throughout all of this, we have seen factor is not housing number, but housing mix. The a pattern. Wehave seen confusion over which Department proposals to simplify and speed up local plan making is in charge of public health border measures. Is it the and retain neighbourhood plans where possible are Department of Health and Social Care, the Home welcome, and the design codes can be specified so it Office or the Department for Transport? It has been should be possible to protect our unique Cotswolds somebody different each time. We have also seen a lack vernacular. I do not want building to be at the expense of transparency.In particular,the Joint Biosecurity Centre of our unique environment and wildlife here in the has still not published any detailed assessments of India, Cotswolds or anywhere else. I believe strongly that new Pakistan, or Bangladesh—the countries where red list builds should be sympathetic to the local surroundings decisions have been taken. We still do not know what data and well designed so that they do not become the slums or evidence was drawn on to make those decisions, so of tomorrow. Above all, they should be built to high all of us think that they were based on the timing of the environmental standards, such as insulation and electric Prime Minister’s trip to India. We need a new system vehicle charging points, as I set out in my 10-minute that has proper transparency, proper accountability and rule Bill. proper clarity in place in order to make improvements To wrap up, I would like to quickly mention the for the future. electoral integrity Bill and giving votes for life. I would The Government have an opportunity in the Immigration also like to welcome the internationally important landmark Bill, which will be scrutinised by the Select Committee that is the Environment Bill. Wearing my hat as chair of and in this place, to address public health border controls, the all-party group for shooting and conservation, I will and I urge them to do so. We cannot make the same be scrutinising carefully the Animal Welfare (Sentience) mistakes again. Bill for any possible effect on shooting. Let me briefly touch on some of the other Bills in the Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing): Before Queen’s Speech. We have had a full Second Reading I call Yvette Cooper, I ought to say that the time limit debate on the Police, Crime, Sentencing, and Courts for Back-Bench speeches will be reduced after the right Bill. I simply highlight that I hope to discuss further hon. Lady’s speech to four minutes in an attempt to— with the Home Secretary’s colleagues this week potential issues around the failure to have proper domestic abuse Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham) (Con): prosecutions under the common assault system. There Aw! is also a wider problem with the drop in the number of Madam Deputy Speaker: Yes, I realise that will be prosecutions. There has been a 30% drop in the number some disappointment to the whole House in respect of of prosecutions over the past five years at a time when the speech we were anticipating from the hon. Gentleman. recorded crime has gone up by 40%, which means that [Laughter.] I call Yvette Cooper. victims are not getting justice and that more criminals are getting away with it. I am really worried that, unless 7.23 pm action is taken, there could be a crisis in the criminal Yvette Cooper (Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford) justice system, because I do not see the measures being (Lab): Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am hugely taken as part of this Bill to address the matter. grateful to you for not bringing in the four-minute limit I welcome the possibility of the victims Bill. I hope straight away, otherwise I would have been gabbling that we will see that and be able to support it on a particularly fast to get to my final points. cross-party basis. The same is true of the online harms The purpose of the Queen’s Speech should be to help Bill. We have waited a long time for this Bill, so I urge the country to recover from covid, to rebuild, to heal the Home Secretary and her colleagues to get on with the scars, and to help people to get back on with their the legislation and accept that we will need to amend it. lives, building a fairer, stronger and safer country. I do We will not get the perfect framework for regulating on not believe that this Queen’s Speech does that. For the online harms at the outset, but if we wait until we get Home Office, the particular priority is to make sure that that, we will be overtaken by events, with the scale of we can come through the covid crisis in the first place, online extremism and online harms. to reflect on the way in which the public health border I am very worried about the voter ID Bill. Nearly half measures simply have not worked in this crisis, and to of women over 70 do not have a driving licence—I look at what new framework we ought to have in future, think those figures are higher in my constituency—and so that lessons can be learned and that the same mistakes the additional hurdles that many of those women will are not made again. face to be able to vote will not only make the whole Looking back over the past 12 months, we had a system hugely discriminatory, but disadvantage people period at the beginning of the crisis where for months who have a right to vote and feel very strongly about it. on end there were no public health border measures in Not since the suffrage have we seen the clock potentially place at all and an estimated 10,000 people with covid being turned back on inequality in this way. came into the country, accelerating the pace and scale of the pandemic in a very damaging way. In summer, the mix of different controls in place still meant that Anthony Mangnall: Does the right hon. Lady therefore there was a surge in autumn, because they simply did disagree with the 2014 Electoral Commission report not work effectively. Now, despite all the huge amount that suggests that we should have voter ID? 473 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 474

Yvette Cooper: I am really concerned about voter For the reminder of the short amount of time I have, ID—I am. I do not think that it is the right way forward, I wish to speak about the proposals to deal with Northern because it will disenfranchise people. The differential Ireland and the legacy of the troubles. It is imperative impact on older women has not been properly taken that the issue is addressed, but I cannot overstate how into account or considered. Women could end up having sensitive it is. I understand and share the absolute desire to produce ID in order to get a free ID card. Where will to protect our veterans, but I also have an absolute they get that ID from? From my constituency, they will desire to make sure that the victims of terrorism and have to travel all the way over to Wakefield—we are other atrocities find out the truth. Some 90% of all talking about older women over 70—to meet the electoral deaths in the troubles were at the hands of terrorists, returning officer to try to get an ID card. All sorts of while 10% were at the hands of the armed forces and the additional hurdles will be put in the way of their right police. Although the majority of those deaths were not to vote. crimes, some were, as we have seen, and it is quite right Finally, I am surprised to find myself in partial that we should find out the truth. We have to remember agreement with the hon. Member for The Cotswolds that these atrocities happened on the streets of the (Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown) and the right hon. Member United Kingdom—we were not at war. In fact, every for Chingford and Woodford Green (Sir Iain Duncan time we say that we were at war, we legitimise what the Smith) over the planning Bill. There are concerns about terrorists did. Our armed forces went in and it was only taking power away from local communities. because of their actions to support the police on our I hope that the Government will come forward with streets that we were able to get the accommodation and proposals on social care, particularly on valuing social compromises of the Belfast Good Friday agreement, care workers who have been on the frontline of this but we have to make sure that there is support from the crisis and who are, too often, undervalued and underpaid. people of Northern Ireland and that the truth is found. To do something positive about those workers would be I simply do not have time to cover all the points that I an important way to take forward the legacy of the wish to make. The 2014 Stormont House agreement is covid crisis. now seven years old. There is much in that agreement on which we should focus, but we have to have cross- 7.29 pm community support in Northern Ireland for any proposals Karen Bradley (Staffordshire Moorlands) (Con): I that are put forward. I intend to speak on this matter have no doubt that this will be an exercise in rushing again. It is important that we get it right for the sake of through things for four minutes. I thank my right hon. the victims of the troubles. Friend the Home Secretary for her opening remarks and associate myself with what she said about the dreadful scenes of antisemitic abuse we saw on our 7.33 pm streets. It is not acceptable, there is no place for it and I John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) (Lab) [V]: absolutely agree with what she said and support her in After 11 years of harsh austerity and a year in which the all she is doing to tackle it. covid pandemic has resulted in such a scale of human May I be indulged in congratulating the new police, suffering, the Queen’sSpeech should have been a paradigm- fire and crime commissioner for Staffordshire, Ben Adams? shifting intervention in which were established a new set I have known Ben for many years and know he will do of ideals upon which the future of our society was at an excellent job, but he steps into the very large shoes of least envisioned. Instead, it was crowded with little Matthew Ellis, the previous police, fire and crime more than base, grubby political manoeuvres aimed at commissioner,who did extraordinary work in Staffordshire corrupting the electoral system and suppressing opposition. over the past nine years and to whom all of us in my It failed completely to capture the spirit of the age. county owe a debt of gratitude. The pandemic pressure-tested our society and exposed There was much in the Gracious Speech that I support, the appalling impact of a decade of gross underfunding but I wish to note a few concerns. Let me start with the of our NHS and social care sector. Covid has laid bare commitment in the Gracious Speech the millions who are in poverty and a social security “to provide aid where it has the greatest impact on reducing system that has provided no security. Austerity fatigue poverty and alleviating human suffering.” and the pandemic are prompting a paradigm shift. The I support that but, particularly in the world of modern old neoliberal dominance of trickle-down economics, slavery, there are too many examples of programmes the market always knowing best and “private good, that are being cut as a result of the reduction in UK aid. public bad” is under serious challenge. Even this Will my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary look into Government have been forced through political expediency that, and particularly at the Global Fund to End Modern to synthetically get with the programme. That is why Slavery? I have real concerns about the fantastic work this Queen’s Speech is so full of rhetoric but so easily that it does and the impact on it. exposed as lacking in substance. I will not repeat what has been said about planning The pandemic has created a renewed sense of social reforms; I agree with much that has been said by my solidarity. There is a greater feeling that we all stand or right hon. and hon. Friends. fall together and that everyone should have a right to a On online harms, I brought in the internet safety decent job, education, a home, health and social care, and strategy many years ago when I was the Culture Secretary, an income to secure good quality of life. This should so I am delighted that it is in this year’s Queen’s Speech. not depend on where people live or what their background I look forward to seeing the Bill, but I urge the Government is. There is a greater belief that the distribution of rewards to take action on access to pornography for under-16s in our society should be based on the social value of the as a matter of urgency. That would address many of the contribution that a person makes to our community harms that we see in society today. and not solely on its market value. The mismatch in the 475 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 476

[John McDonnell] I want to focus on one aspect of the Home Office measures: the much needed overhaul of the immigration Queen’s Speech between these values of our age and and asylum system. I very much welcome the Home what the Government propose is starkly exemplified. Secretary’s recent new plan for immigration. I have There is nothing in the Queen’s Speech that will spoken about this before, because all we need, above all, realistically ensure that the NHS receives the funding to is an immigration system that is fair, fast, flexible, cope with backlog of treatments or, especially, to deal family friendly and beneficial to the UK and to the with the impact of long covid. It maintains the pay cuts many people escaping danger and persecution overseas. to NHS staff and public sector workers, forcing many We have a proud record of helping and encouraging into absolute penury. Social care reform is delayed yet those who want to make a big contribution to the UK, again. We await the outcome of further discussions in but too often our immigration system is bureaucratic the autumn but doubt whether anything productive will and complicated, as the Windrush situation showed. It come from the Government. takes too long and people’s lives are left in limbo; it does There is nothing to give hope of a secure home to not treat people as individuals; and there are too many many people, nothing to address low pay and poverty on taking advantage of our openness and jumping the a scale that we have not seen for a generation, including queue ahead of those with a genuine claim to come to the rising numbers of the homeless back on our streets the UK. and the renewed threat of eviction that is affecting so I have always supported tougher measures against many of our constituents who rent their properties. those who have the money to fuel organised crime The existential threat of climate change is met with gangs facilitating dangerous passages across the channel nothing more than press releases and, obscenely, or people smuggling through other routes. There need to international aid is cut and the Government fail to back be implications. I welcome the Home Secretary’scomment Biden’s patent-waiving campaign to save lives as the that if someone comes by an illegal route they are not covid pandemic ravages the global south. treated on a par with someone who has applied legitimately and through legal means such as refugee agencies and This is a Queen’s Speech that does not just fail to refugee camps. It is just not fair otherwise. In return, we meet the challenges of our times, but drags us back to need an immigration system that is streamlined, affordable mundane politicking, providing no sense of hope or —not a revenue generator for the Home Office—and direction at a time when our people are in desperate works quickly to get people to a place of safety sustainably need, having suffered 12 months of tragic loss of life and deals with those who do not have a future in the and 11 years of austerity pay cuts and the undermining UK. We urgently need safe and legal routes and family of their public services. This Queen’s Speech is a grotesque reunification schemes to replace Dublin. I think this is a disappointment and has failed the community yet again. trade-off that gains the support of the public. 7.37 pm I specifically ask the Home Secretary to look at the Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham) (Con): plight of a group of young migrants who have come to I would like to say that it is a pleasure to follow the right Britain, represented by the excellent WeBelong organisation, hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell), who find themselves in limbo: no fewer than 332,000 but if he had been a television programme, it would children and young people growing up legally in the have been followed by a public information notice saying, UK without any formal immigration status who migrated “If you have been affected by any of the issues in this here as children predominantly from Commonwealth programme, here is a helpline to ring.” countries and know only the UK as their home. We heard articulate witnesses before the Home Affairs Committee. How on earth to address the dazzling cornucopia of They came here with their families and their immigration welcome legislation in the Queen’s Speech in just four status has not been settled, which becomes a problem minutes? Let me just flag up some of the measures I when they reach adulthood and want to go to university particularly welcome. I welcome the measure on the or get a job. They have to spend £2,593 in legal fees to best start in life, thanks to my right hon. Friend the apply for leave to remain and then to renew their status Member for South Northamptonshire (Andrea Leadsom) every 30 months over a 10-year period. These people and the exceedingly valuable work that has been put in, are British. They want to be British. They are contributing which the Government will now take up. and want to do so in a formalised way. We therefore need I will not repeat, but endorse the concerns about the to do better by them. I welcome the fact that the Under- planning legislation that virtually every Conservative Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Member has mentioned. We do not level up by levelling Friend the Member for Torbay (Kevin Foster), met them and concreting over the diminishing open spaces, recently.I hope that in the immigration legislation coming particularly in the south-east of England. forward we can give them the settlement and surety that I welcome the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill. The they deserve. ban on animal trophies and provisions on pet theft, kept animals, cat micro-chipping and fur imports show that we do not need the European Union to promote 7.41 pm some of the highest animal welfare standards in the Dame Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) world, as we do and will continue to do in this country. (Lab): As today’s theme is “Safe streets for all”, I start I welcome the draft online safety Bill. We need social by paying tribute to Humberside’s former police and media platforms to get serious about preventing abusive, crime commissioner, Keith Hunter, who worked hard to extremist and bullying content. However, we also need develop the PCC role and reversed the post-2010 Tory to address economic harms and exposure to fraud and I and Lib Dem cuts in police numbers. I fear that Hull’s ask the Government to look at ways of including that in inner-city policing challenges may be less of a priority the legislation. for his successor. There is little in the Queen’s Speech 477 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 478 that will help us in Hull to combat antisocial behaviour will go further in one matter, though—that is, air quality. which blights the lives of so many after the austerity I hope that it is possible to move forward swiftly to decade in areas such as Orchard Park, Beverley Road make sure that the PM2.5 levels are put in line with and Princes Avenue. World Health Organisation standards.The Under-Secretary As we face the economic challenges post covid and of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my post Brexit, Hull people will be looking to the Government hon. Friend for Taunton Deane (Rebecca Pow), made to make good on the promises of levelling up. After a warm comments about that on Report in the last Session decade of talk about the northern powerhouse and and I hope that we can return to it. rebalancing the economy, we have little to show for it The Building Safety Bill is critical. We know that it is that has not actually been achieved through local effort. a vastly important issue, but it is also important that we In fact, in those years, Tory Ministers blocked Hull do not wait to deal with the issue of those leaseholders getting rail electrification and imposed some of the who are trapped now in houses and flats blighted by country’s deepest public sector funding cuts on the city. Grenfell-type cladding. We need to move more swiftly Now, the various pots of levelling-up funding available, than purely legislation in relation to that. even to favoured areas, do not amount in scale to the sustained investment that would be really transformational On planning, we need to build more homes. We need —as seen, for example, in London’sDocklands in previous to modernise our planning law, but we should not do decades. These pots of money, which set towns against that at the expense of proper, democratic involvement cities and regions against regions, do not even compensate from communities who will be affected by the new for the funding cuts since 2010. In Hull we need investment proposals.Wemust get the balance right. Harold Macmillan but not the gerrymandering of the towns fund or the built 300,000 homes within a system of checks and one-size-fits-all, made-in-Whitehall mayoral model of balances. We should be able to do the same and get the devolution that Ministers insist on. I agree with genuine balance properly correct. devolution in principle, but we must let the people of On criminal justice matters, the return of the Police, Hull and the East Riding have their say on what they Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill is important. Much want devolution to look like for it to be meaningful. of it is good. We need to deal heavily and robustly with I want to conclude with a couple of positive suggestions those who commit egregious offences, but I welcome that I hope would command cross-party support. First, the fact that, within the Bill, there are also provisions one step forward on levelling up for the most deprived for a more sophisticated and nuanced set of sentences areas would be to strengthen the Dormant Assets Bill for those who, frankly, get into problems with the that was introduced in Parliament last week and to use criminal justice system because of chaotic lifestyles and the £880 million of capital liberated for a community background difficulties, and who can be redeemed and wealth fund to improve life chances, skills and the turned around. A properly positive one nation conservatism, quality of life in neighbourhoods such as north Hull’s which I adhere to, will recognise both sides. We must Bransholme. protect the public but we must also encourage those Secondly, I welcome the promise in the Queen’s Speech who can change their lives and move forward. I hope to honour and strengthen the armed forces covenant, that we can look at the details of this as we go forward. placing it in law and hopefully extending good work with veterans. However, working shoulder to shoulder The victims Bill is important, too. Not enough is said with our armed forces this past year to get the country about victims in our criminal justice system. Certainly, through the covid pandemic and roll out the vaccine has the Justice Committee stands ready to engage in pre- been our brilliant NHS and social care workforce. We legislative scrutiny of the draft Bill with the Government. should remember that by December 2020, nine months Let me add two caveats. A proper criminal justice into the pandemic, some 850 NHS and social care staff system involves the integrity and independence of those had died from covid. Never again should these staff who administer it—we have that with our judiciary at face the prospect of needlessly risking their own health, the highest level—but it also requires consent. The jury even their own lives, in the course of doing their job system has ensured the consent of the populous throughout through a lack of PPE or failings in testing. The Home these times. We are right to modernise all our court Secretary talked about the police covenant in her opening procedures, but we should be careful about the idea of remarks. I hope that the Government will consider online juries. Provision may be appropriate in certain instituting a national health, social care and emergency circumstances of urgency, but we should look carefully services covenant on similar lines to the existing armed at the risk that they become, as some judges have forces covenant—enshrined in law, fully funded and in suggested, spectators rather participants. Let us move place as soon as is practicable. These workers deserve with care. much more than a hand clap on the doorstep on a Thursday night, a medal or, now, the prospect of a real-terms pay On judicial review, the right of the citizen to challenge cut. They have been there for us—all of us—and now the state is critical—it is fundamental. We can, again, we need to be there for them. always modernise and review procedures, but the ability to hold the state and its actors to account should not be undermined at the end of the day, so I suggest that we 7.45 pm should proceed with caution and moderation in those Sir Robert Neill (Bromley and Chislehurst) (Con): In reforms. The outcome of the Faulks commission was the time available, I can touch on only a few matters relating sensible. I have no problem with looking at other issues, to the Queen’s Speech. The return of the Environment but I suspect that it would be wise not to rush on Bill is very welcome. It is ambitious and important. I matters that are critical to the checks and balances that hope that we will proceed swiftly to that and to our affect not only our system, but the relationship between chairmanship and presidency of COP26. I hope that we the state and the citizen and individual. 479 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 480

Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing): After staunch a supporter of the Palestinian cause as I am, the next speaker, the limit on Back-Bench speeches will there can be no place in this debate for what we saw, and be reduced to three minutes—but with four minutes, I we in this country help nobody in Palestine by evincing call Alistair Carmichael. sentiments that are antisemitic. On that, at least, I hope there will be a measure of consensus across the House. 7.49 pm Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland) (LD): Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing): It is Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am very good to hear the right hon. Gentleman mention very grateful to you. consensus in that respect. As a rabbi in my constituency It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Bromley was brutally attacked yesterday—many people may be and Chislehurst (Sir Robert Neill), who made a very aware of this—I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman thoughtful contribution. He said a lot in four minutes, for having just articulated what I would have liked to characterised by the fact that, of course, he knows what say myself if I were able to do so. I am delighted to tell he is talking about, because he has not just a political him that Essex police have arrested two young men in understanding but professional experience of criminal connection with the attack on the rabbi, which was an justice. In particular, when he spoke of sentencing and absolute disgrace. how rehabilitation should be at the heart of our prison We now go to a limit of three minutes, I am afraid, system, there was nothing he said with which I could and I call Caroline Nokes. disagree personally or politically. When listening to the Home Secretary, however, it 7.54 pm struck me that if we ever wanted to generate a bob or two, we could bring out a new parlour game called Caroline Nokes (Romsey and Southampton North) “Who said it and when?” because there were points in (Con) [V]: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. You her speech when I felt that I could have been listening to are right to point out that intolerance, harassment, just about any Home Secretary that I have heard speak racism and abuse, of whatever sort, are intolerable in at the Dispatch Box in the last 20 years. I have lost count this country. I am pleased to hear of the arrests that you of the number of times I have heard Home Secretaries mentioned. stand there talking about “Cracking down on this” or I was also pleased to hear about many of the things “Getting tough on that”. It is always the rhetoric of that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary identified toughness, whereas we know that, in fact, getting things in her opening remarks. I was delighted to hear that she right in criminal justice is often about doing things that had met Our Streets Now, a really effective and energetic are difficult—and difficult to explain in the tabloid campaign group that is working so hard to see public press—but that are also right and effective. sexual harassment made a crime. I very much hope that We heard as much tonight when the Home Secretary we will see real action on that, either in the Police, talked about setting centrally driven targets in order to Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill or in separate legislation. improve policing. Centrally driven targets will not improve Public sexual harassment affects not just young women, policing; it is community policing, rooted in the community but children: 66% of young women aged between 14 and that it is there to serve, that will improve policing and 21 have experienced it. Fourteen-year-olds—children—in produce the outcomes. We have heard this for decades: their school uniforms being sexually harassed is not the rhetoric goes on, yet year after year our streets and something that we should tolerate. It is not currently a communities become less safe for our people, and the specific crime, but it should be. Making our streets safer rhetoric does not change. is not just about more street lights, more CCTV or more I also discern in the Queen’s Speech an emerging police on the streets. When I was a local councillor in pattern from this Government, and it is one that disturbs 1999, more than 21 years ago, we talked about designing and concerns me. Yet again, I am afraid, the Conservatives out crime, yet there are still young women afraid to have been pleased to style themselves in opposition as walk on our streets. Relationships and sex education liberals, and perhaps even occasionally as libertarians, should not stop at 16, because it is crucial that in the but they are increasingly authoritarian in government. sixth form our young people understand consent and The moves in the carry-over Bill in relation to the right what it means. to protest are misjudged and ill-conceived, and I think Of course, it is not just about making our physical that, ultimately, they will be counterproductive. streets safer. We also have to make the online space The hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst referred safer, so that comments such as the horrific ones we saw to the question of judicial review. Any Government over the weekend can be tracked down by the social who believe in the rule of law should have absolutely no media companies that host them and action can be difficulty putting the decisions that they have taken taken. I was delighted to meet the Football Association before the court. If those decisions are right and legal, a few weeks ago to talk about racism in football and the they should have no problem in the courts; and if they harassment that players face online every single day. are not right and legal, they should want to change The FA used the analogy that the problem is not just in them in any event. the chair, but in the computer. It is critical that we use Time is short and there is one point that I wanted to our new online safety legislation to ensure that those put on the record. I am in total agreement with the companies bear the brunt of the responsibility to help Home Secretary’s comments condemning the scenes on police and law enforcement to identify the perpetrators our streets and online in relation to antisemitism, specifically and stamp such behaviour out. in London. I think I come at the Israel-Palestine question I welcome the review of how rape victims are treated. from a rather different point of view from that held by My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary was correct the Home Secretary, but even for somebody who is as to say that we need to overhaul the way in which we 481 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 482 treat victims. I would argue that not just rape victims country, and I welcome to the House our new colleague, but all female victims of crime need to be empowered to my hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Jill Mortimer). have the confidence to come forward and report it, However, time is short, so let me press on. knowing that their case will be treated seriously by all I would be negligent if I did not start with an ask for law enforcement. my beautiful constituency of South Dorset. We hear 7.57 pm much about levelling up, and I sincerely hope that that does not just mean in the north, much as it needs the Ms Karen Buck (Westminster North) (Lab): So much investment. It is crucial that we in South Dorset attract of the legislation and policy that we discuss in this House jobs that offer a more secure future, not least because is experienced by people through the filter of local parts of the seat rank among the most deprived 10% in government: it is experienced locally rather than through the country. The Government do not create jobs, but a national framework. Councils, which are at the forefront well-targeted investment does attract the private sector, of dealing with so many of the challenges that we face, which employs people to do the work. To this end, a have stepped up, particularly in this last year of covid, panel of high-profile businessmen and businesswomen and delivered on everything from supporting the vaccination from Weymouth and Portland have drawn up a business programme and vulnerable people shielding to the Everyone plan with an ask of £250 million. Chaired by Portland In homelessness programme and so much more. port’s inspirational chief executive, Bill Reeves, the wish It is depressing to see that once again the Queen’s list includes a short relief road and moneys to repair the Speech reinforces the existing trend that councils are harbour and marina sea walls and Weymouth’s sea not rewarded for the service that they provide to their defences. Without these essential works, the Environment local communities. They are treated with indifference, Agency is unable to give the green light to much-needed stripped of the resources that they need and increasingly redevelopment around our picturesque harbour. stripped of the vital defensive functions that they can Secondly, I have noted that today’s debate is called fulfil in supporting their communities. They have lost Safe Streets for All. I give credit to, and thank, Dorset core funding of more than £16 billion over the past police for their endeavour in this regard. We all want decade; 60p out of every £1 that the Government provided our streets to be safe, but the reduction in police numbers a decade ago is no longer provided. and the changing nature of crime, with more online Wehave heard many times, from Conservative Members offences, have led to fewer bobbies on the beat. More as much as from the Opposition, that councils’ defence are coming and more still are promised, which is welcome, of communities through their planning role is being but worryingly, the budget cuts and some hard decisions seriously undermined, as we have already seen with have resulted in the closure of around 50% of Britain’s permitted development, and will be undermined further. police stations in the past decade. The physical presence Where we want swift action from the Government, we of a police station is a deterrent, a source of comfort to have seen delays in everything from the protection of the public, and a refuge of last resort. Call me a luddite, leaseholders to building safety four years after Grenfell, but for our streets to be even safer, these closures must with no progress on social care at all—and so much more. be reversed as a matter of urgency. I want to spend a minute on community safety. Again, I will touch quickly on Northern Ireland, where I local government is very much at the forefront, from served on three operational tours. I and many colleagues community cohesion in the light of the appalling events in this place, and thousands of veterans outside it, have that we saw over this weekend to supporting safety on been waiting patiently for a Government Bill that will our streets and working with our local police. Sadly, prevent our former soldiers being chased to the grave. county lines gangs and serious youth violence do not Regrettably, I do not see one: just more talk. This is get the attention in this Chamber that I think they simply not good enough, and I urge the Government to deserve. I am pleased that the Police, Crime, Sentencing bring forward a Bill as fast as they can. and Courts Bill will place a new statutory duty on local Finally, no more lockdowns, please. I think we are all authorities and partners to prevent serious violence. I fed up with being told what to do, when to do it, and hope that the widest possible approach will be taken with whom. Enough, Madam Deputy Speaker; enough. and that it will be fully funded, given that youth services, with their vital preventive role, have been stripped of 70% of their funding over the past 10 years. 8.3 pm However,despite all these unmet needs, the Government Tom Randall (Gedling) (Con): The theme of today’s are giving priority to dealing with a problem that we all debate is safe streets for all, and with the events of the know hardly exists through the proposals to introduce a weekend, my thoughts turn in particular to those British new layer of bureaucracy for voting that will cost councils citizens who happen to be Jewish. The rights and wrongs tens of millions of pounds. I say to the Minister that of the Arab-Israeli conflict will no doubt continue to be this is not a problem that deserves our attention, and it debated at great length, but what we saw at the weekend is certainly not a problem that deserves the resources of was not part of that debate. I am pleased to hear that local government. Can that money instead be devoted arrests have been made, and I join the Prime Minister to where it belongs: community safety, and supporting and Home Secretary in condemning the shameful racism young people into the diversion and prevention activities that we have seen, which rightly has caused shock and that we need to keep our streets safe? disgust. In Gedling, we have fortunately not seen such behaviour, 8 pm but crime remains a general concern. I will continue to Richard Drax (South Dorset) (Con): Before I start, I support the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, refer to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial and I particularly welcome the increased sentences for Interests. There is much to be welcomed in the Queen’s those who assault emergency workers. Cases of burglary Speech, which comes after electoral success across the and antisocial behaviour fell during lockdown when 483 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 484

[Tom Randall] legislating against online investment fraud, but it appears that the Bill will address only user-generated content. many were confined to their homes, but there have been We understand that online scam adverts are to be dealt cases recently, and I pay tribute to the neighbourhood with in a separate initiative, which, so far as I can tell, police team in Gedling for their efforts during a very has made no tangible progress at all since it was announced difficult time. Thanks to this Government’s recruitment two years ago. It will take perhaps a further two or three programme, there are now over two dozen more police years before it delivers anything. officers on the streets of Gedling, and they are doing great Campaigner Mark Taber gave evidence to the Select work. Many have been assigned to Operation Reacher, Committee. He found the compare-uk-bonds.co.uk fake knocking down drug dealers’doors and making a difference comparison site on Google and reported it to Google in to the lives of Gedling residents, a direct consequence May. It stayed up until December. He has just heard of decisions made by this Government. from a recently bereaved woman who lost over £200,000 In her opening speech, the Home Secretary mentioned after finding that fake site on Google in September. police and crime commissioners and I would like to add Google should have acted in May, but did not. People my congratulations to Caroline Henry on her election think that if a site is on Google, it must have been as PCC for Nottinghamshire. She was an excellent vetted, but it will not have been. Google takes money candidate and will be an excellent commissioner, and from scammers and then also takes money from regulators while, of course, I do not know her as well as my hon. to warn about the scammers we find on Google. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Darren Henry) I It is not just my Select Committee saying this: industry look forward to working with her during her term; she is saying it, and the Governor of the Bank of England is bringing great energy and fresh ideas to the role. and the Financial Conduct Authority are saying that At the heart of the Queen’s Speech was a restatement this Bill must legislate to deal with this problem. of the Government’s commitment to levelling up. On Martin Lewis, the money saving expert, said that that theme, I look forward to working alongside my “the Government has stumbled at the first fence, by not including hon. Friend the Member for Mansfield (Ben Bradley), scams in the Online Safety Bill.” who has just been elected leader of Nottinghamshire In letting crooks and scammers continue to ruin people’s County Council and who I am sure will bring great lives, Ministers are being abjectly soft on this appalling leadership to the role. I send my best wishes to his crime. They could still do the right thing and legislate in predecessor, Councillor Kay Cutts, on her retirement; this Bill, and I urge them to do so. she can look back with pride on working and delivering for the people of Nottinghamshire. It has been a difficult In September 2018 I moved an amendment to the year for Gedling’s businesses and I look forward to Offensive Weapons Bill in Committee to ban the purchase working with the officers and members of Gedling online of weapons that cannot lawfully be bought in a Borough Council to submit a high-quality bid for the shop in the UK. I am pleased that that at least is in the levelling-up fund to help our high streets. online safety Bill this time. We must have not only safer streets, but safer elections in this country, and I look forward to exploring issues around security of the ballot when the electoral integrity 8.9 pm Bill comes before the House. I believe that our voting Dr Neil Hudson (Penrith and The Border) (Con) [V]: procedures can be improved and it is possible, as Northern I welcome the measures in the Queen’s Speech to support Ireland has shown, to demand identification to vote policing, which will not only secure safer streets for all, without affecting turnout. but go more widely across the country to cover rural I could address much more but do not have sufficient crime. In Cumbria, we have seen the re-election of our time. However, I look forward to considering the Conservative police and crime commissioner,Peter McCall. Government’s measures in further detail in this Session. I pay tribute to Peter, to our chief constable, Michelle Skeer, and to all of Cumbria police for their efforts to keep us safe, especially with the added challenges of the 8.6 pm pandemic. Stephen Timms (East Ham) (Lab): I first want to I very much welcome the Government’s plans to tackle deplore the loss of the employment Bill. It was announced rural, wildlife and animal-related crime. The Government in the December 2019 Queen’s Speech but entirely omitted have announced measures in this speech to improve animal this time. The Work and Pensions Committee report on welfare, both here and globally. As a veterinary surgeon, the Department’s response to coronavirus recommended that is something I welcome strongly. The action plan last June that the Government should bring forward the for animal welfare contains much-awaited measures to employment Bill as soon as possible to increase legal recognise animal sentience in law and plans to tackle protection for people in low-paid work and the gig puppy smuggling, pet theft, ear-cropping in dogs and economy, so last Friday, with the Chair of the Business, livestock worrying. Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, my hon. Friend The plans to end live exports of animals for fattening the Member for Bristol North West (Darren Jones), I or slaughter are welcome, but in parallel, we need to wrote to the Secretary of State asking whether the help the farming sector to adapt. We need to bolster the Government still plan to legislate in this area, and, if so, local abattoir network to reduce travelling times and when. distances so that UK animals can be born, reared and In opening the debate the Home Secretary spoke slaughtered locally. By promoting high animal welfare about the online safety Bill, but there is a gaping omission standards here in the UK, and by using animal welfare from that Bill. In our pension scams report of last chapters in our free trade deals, we can be a beacon for month, the Work and Pensions Committee recommended the rest of the world. 485 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 486

It would be an excellent use of some of our international as constituency MPs, we know—particularly those of aid budget to help farmers in the developing world to us in London—that that is not happening. People are farm and rear animals more sustainably. On that note, I being sent hundreds of miles away,breaking their families, welcome the comments last week in the Chamber from their support structures, their work and their education, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor that the UK economy with enormous social impact. will be on a stable footing in the coming months. I say to the Government, not as a partisan message: Accordingly, I urge the Government to reinstate the please consider introducing a formal legal regulator for UK’s commitment to 0.7% of GNI being spent on temporary accommodation—an Ofsted of housing, if international aid as soon as possible. you like, that will ensure that local authorities live by the The Queen’s Speech also contains welcome measures existing code of guidance. Only if councils know that to protect and support our environment through the there is a regulator about to come in will they try to Environment Bill. I strongly support the Government’s address the problem that they have. If we wish to support plans to focus on improving mental health support and those families, but also to reduce the spend and the provision in our country, which has come into sharp consequences of the shocking temporary accommodation relief in the pandemic. that families are currently living in, we need a regulator In addition, I welcome plans to improve connectivity, to be there to watch. not only physically with buses and trains, but virtually with improved broadband and mobile phone coverage. 8.15 pm The measures on the lifetime skills guarantee and flexible access to education are to be applauded. I look forward Imran Ahmad Khan (Wakefield) (Con) [V]: This Queen’s to working with the Government for the learners of Speech is unique in the aims and objectives that it seeks Cumbria. to achieve and the challenges that it faces. Covid-19 has demonstrated the need for a strong and flexible police Our Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee force that not only seeks to make our streets safer but inquiry on land-based education raised serious questions supports local communities and the most vulnerable. I over Askham Bryan’s planned exit from Newton Rigg welcome this Queen’s Speech, which assists in ensuring and Cumbria. I reiterate our call for the Government to that our police are better equipped to achieve both confirm whether Askham Bryan is within its legal rights those objectives. to sell the college and its assets. If it is, we are asking the Government to ensure that it does the right thing so that The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill is we can secure a long-term future for education in Cumbria. a vital vehicle through which those ambitions will be realised. It will overhaul our justice system to ensure In conclusion, I welcome the proposals in the Queen’s that our police and courts have the tools and resources Speech. They are progressive and ethical, and I look necessary to tackle the most heinous of crimes. Extending forward to working with Government. whole-life orders for the premeditated murder of a child is but one example of a tougher stance when it comes to 8.12 pm sentencing those who commit the most appalling crimes. Siobhain McDonagh (Mitcham and Morden) (Lab): I New legislation will also be brought forward to further would like to raise the issue of the planning Bill. I do so support victims and provide the tools necessary to not to exacerbate the problems with the Bill on the tackle cyber-crime and prevent online harms. A draft Government Benches, but to merely point out that it victims Bill will be introduced to strengthen the rights will not achieve the Government’s intention to build of victims through the establishment of the new victims 300,000 properties each year. The last year in which code. The draft online safety Bill will protect internet 300,000 properties were constructed was in the mid-1960s, users, especially children, and ensure that companies when half those properties were being built by councils are responsible for their users’ safety online. and housing associations. Without a real effort to build This array of legislation will ensure that punishments social housing, those numbers cannot be achieved. If for crimes are proportionate and representative of their we continue to rely on one of the most expensive forms severity. It will ensure that victims of crime are properly of production in the world, reliant on crumbs from the supported and that individuals are protected in their developers’ table to get that number of units, then the communities and online while our inalienable rights are hopes and aspirations of hundreds of thousands of defended. people in this country will not be met. Alongside new legislation, additional funding has There is a connection between the lack of social housing been made available to ensure that sufficient officers are and the exponential increase in the number of people recruited. Police funding has increased by £636 million living in temporary accommodation. We have 100,000 this year, meaning that total police funding is up to children living in temporary accommodation right now. £15.8 billion for the financial year 2021-22. That means What does temporary mean? To me, it means maybe six that West Yorkshire police, which is proudly headquartered months or a year. To the families in my constituency here in Wakefield, will receive £511.9 million this financial placed in temporary accommodation, we are talking year, compared with £484.5 million last year. I welcome about four, five or maybe six years, and possibly longer that increased budget and look forward to more officers for those families entering such accommodation now. being recruited to patrol the streets of Wakefield. Many people will have heard me mention that there is In conclusion, while I welcome the introduction of a code of guidance, which states that temporary the Nightingale courts to deal with the backlog of accommodation should be provided to families who are cases, and the modernisation of courts to deliver swifter homeless, that it should be provided in their home justice, more must be done to ensure that people have borough, and that it should allow people to continue in permanent access to justice regardless of where they their work and children to continue at their schools. But live. Wakefield is the largest city in the country without 487 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 488

[Imran Ahmad Khan] people who are a danger to themselves or others to be placed in a secure and caring environment quickly so a magistrates court inside its boundary, meaning that that a mental health assessment by a professional can my constituents are forced to travel out of the city to take place? I would really appreciate some engagement access justice. I applaud the Home Secretary and her— from him on those two points.

Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Rosie Winterton): 8.22 pm Order. The hon. Gentleman has run over time. Dawn Butler (Brent Central) (Lab) [V]: This Queen’s 8.19 pm Speech was supposed to be part of levelling up. Instead, I am sure that it has come as a shock to many that this Sara Britcliffe (Hyndburn) (Con): It is a great pleasure Government are intent on destroying our democracy. In to speak in the debate today, just as it is a great pleasure the time available to me, I want to focus on just one to welcome a new Conservative police and crime aspect of the Queen’s Speech, as highlighted by the commissioner to Lancashire. The people of our county United Nations. On 6 August 2018, the UN stated in its have once again put their trust in this Conservative report on contemporary forms of racism, racial Government, and I know that our new PCC, Andrew discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance: Snowden, will deliver for them. I also want to take a “Once they are in government, nationalist populists often moment to thank all the officers and police staff who deploy a range of tactics to disenfranchise groups…These might have worked tirelessly to keep us safe during the pandemic include, for example…imposing specific photo identification and and to enforce the covid rules. Lancashire is incredibly other requirements that disproportionately exclude marginalized lucky to have you. groups from voting.” Across Hyndburn and Haslingden, people want to It is clear for all to see that this Tory Government’s feel safe when they go out. They want the streets to be plans for voter ID will result in voter suppression, and it secure and the police to be in their neighbourhoods is incumbent on us as a country and as a Parliament to tackling crime and protecting the public. That is why take back control. The public are not blind to this the Government are working through a legislative Government’s attempts to roll back democracy, and programme that is tough on criminals, keeps our streets they are challenging them at every opportunity, whether safe and delivers on the public’s priorities, in marked it is the proroguing of Parliament so that a few Ministers contrast to the Opposition. But rather than dwell on the can make decisions,or giving themselves Henry VIII powers many and varied shortcomings of the Opposition, I to limit the powers of the courts, or even the recent want to raise just two points on which I would be Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which includes grateful for some engagement from the Lord Chancellor draconian powers on where, when and how people can and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. and protest. This Government have rolled back democracy learned Friend the Member for South Swindon (Robert at every step, but people have still been on the streets Buckland). fighting them. And let us not forget the procurement The first is the question of self-funding through contracts awarded without parliamentary oversight. council tax, which now makes up an average of 34% of This is all happening in plain sight, but be assured that, police funding. In some parts of the country where slowly but surely, we will take back control from this there is a larger and wealthier council tax base, PCCs authoritarian nationalist Government. Even those on the are able to raise funds more easily through the precept Minister’s side of the House have spoken out. The former and therefore recruit more police officers. However, Brexit Secretary, the right hon. Member for Haltemprice some areas with lower tax bases that cannot do that as and Howden (Mr Davis), has said that this is a easily also have more areas of deprivation and therefore “solution in pursuit of a non-existent problem”. more policing need. Currently, the system allows for We are currently faced with a Government who seek areas with a lower level of need to raise more funds for power just so that they can give their mates millions of officers, but the central Government funding formula pounds of public money. The Government want to that has been used over many years does not reflect this. make millions for their mates while those who are just I believe that any changes to the funding formula must about managing have to go to food banks or are fired reflect social and economic factors if we are to deliver and then rehired on worse terms and conditions. This is on our levelling-up agenda. not a fair way to live; it is unfair. My second point is more technical and relates to the We should be modernising voting and expanding the provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983, particularly franchise. We should allow votes at 16, enable people to sections 135 and 136. Section 135 allows the police to vote at train stations and other places of convenience enter a home and take someone to a place of safety so and explore online voting. It is time to start including, that a mental health assessment can be done. The police not excluding, the electorate. Britain’s democracy belongs must have a warrant from a magistrates court allowing to all of us, not just the rich and the millionaires. We them to enter the home. An application for a warrant must take back control and defend our democracy. must be made by an “approved mental health professional”, who must also accompany the police to the home. This 8.25 pm section is used in a pre-planned way and allows the police to look after people who could be a danger or Anthony Mangnall (Totnes) (Con): I would say that it who are unable to look after themselves. So a person is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Brent Central can be removed from an address under section 135, but (Dawn Butler), but it is a complete load of nonsense to not under section 136. Would my right hon. and learned suggest that we are subduing democracy in any way. If Friend consider an amendment to the Mental Health she looked at the Electoral Commission report of 2014, Act to give the police the extra flexibility to allow she would note that it very sensibly suggested voter ID. 489 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 490

Indeed, in Northern Ireland, votes have not been supressed; must then explain why seven times as much is spent on they have continued and been allowed, and it has been a transport in London as it is in parts of Yorkshire. very successful roll-out. Infrastructure takes decades to introduce, and people in I welcome the measures outlined in the Queen’s Speech, our area and elsewhere will feel that it is jam tomorrow which sets a clear and bold agenda for this parliamentary and that no difference will be made now. Session. In the time allowed, I would like to draw Secondly, there is the idea of education and skills. attention to a few points. First, on rail and bus reform, But then the Prime Minister has to explain why, over at long last we are to see a White Paper that will join up the past 10 years, the Government cuts to school funding our trains, buses and boats. Hopefully, it will be delivered in my constituency were 16 times higher than the cuts in on time so that I can go back to my constituents and tell his constituency. them how they can traverse the area more ably. The final point that the Prime Minister makes is Secondly, the skills and post-16 education Bill will about IT, which he says is the way forward. The fact of enable further education colleges, such as South Devon the matter is that in my constituency and other parts College in my constituency, to help people in every age of Yorkshire, the broadband speed is less than half of group have the opportunity to innovate, create businesses what it is in his constituency. For all those reasons, we and retrain. That is hugely important. can understand how it came about that output per Thirdly, I completely welcome the procurement Bill, worker in our area is half the level that it is in London, which I hope my right hon. Friend the Member for that wages in my constituency are £300 a week less than Ludlow (Philip Dunne) will have a significant hand in, they are in the Prime Minister’s, that there are twice as given his previous work on this subject. By addressing many top jobs in administration and management in his procurement, we will not only save taxpayers’ money constituency than mine, and that children born today in but put it where it needs to go more effectively. my constituency—according to his Social Mobility Like other Members, I would like to speak about the Commission—face a future that is much more difficult planning Bill. It will come as no surprise that I am, at than it is in other parts of the country. present, heavily against it. We need to entrench ourselves The Prime Minister climbed his way to the top by in localism. The Conservative party has stood for localism. arguing for a turbocharged inequality, and now he is We must listen to what local residents want for where trying to paper over the cracks of the very inequality his we develop. That means following neighbourhood plans party helped to create. This Queen’s Speech does not and addressing the issues relating to building on brownfield address the central problems facing my community and sites, ensuring we protect our green spaces, ending land many others I try to speak for in this House every banking, and building in an environmentally friendly day—it papers over the cracks. We require a Government way. Those are the things that the people of Totnes and who will transform our country, create a rupture with south Devon want to see done. Of course, they want the way in which this British establishment has ruled affordable homes and homes that they can rent. All of our country for the past two to three generations, and that can be achieved, and I look forward to the opportunity build a fairer, more just and more democratic society. to helpfully reform the planning Bill when it comes to this place. 8.30 pm Of course, today is for talking about crime and safer streets. I congratulate Alison Hernandez, our police Allan Dorans (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (SNP): It and crime commissioner, on her re-election—how lucky is now more than 40 years since the first reclaim the we are in Devon and Cornwall to have her re-elected. night protest in Leeds in 1977, when women marched in She has a firm agenda of not only keeping Devon the response to being told to stay at home because of the second-lowest crime area in the United Kingdom, with Yorkshire ripper’s murders. Little has changed in who an ambition to make it No. 1, but introducing schemes we focus our attention on when men commit such such as the councillor advocate scheme, putting new heinous crimes. With the tragic death of Sarah Everard officers on our streets and delivering a safe environment just a few months ago, women were again told to stay at for all people, whether they be residents or visitors. home for their safety. The focus remains on what women should do to protect themselves, rather than on men 8.27 pm and their criminal actions and behaviours. Jon Trickett (Hemsworth) (Lab): In a striking opening Street harassment, verbal or physical, against all women comment in the Queen’s Speech debates, the Prime is at an epidemic level. In 2018, Plan International UK Minister remarked that genius can be found everywhere found that 66% of women had experienced unwanted in our country—of course, you and I know that that is attention or sexual harassment in a public place. Those especially true in God’s own country, Madam Deputy figures increase for trans men and minority genders, Speaker, but we will draw a veil over that. He also said who are twice as likely to be victims of a violent crime that opportunity is lacking throughout the country. We as cis people, according to the Office for National arrive, then, at the central thrust of the Queen’s Speech: Statistics. The focus for too long has shifted attention the idea that we should level up. There are two things to away from men. We must ask why men are harassing, say about that. The first is that we have to will the abusing and being violent towards women and girls. means as well as the ends, and the Government have Violence against women is a social problem that is failed to do that, as I will describe in a moment or two. indelibly rooted in masculinity. Reshaping masculinity Secondly, we have to analyse why the country needs at a young age through education is an obvious approach levelling up in the way that the Prime Minister described. to reducing aggressive, violent forms of masculinity Three aspects of the Queen’s Speech address the that are inextricably linked to violence against women. levelling-up agenda, and none of them works for Yorkshire. There is disappointingly little evidence of attempts to First, the Prime Minister wants infrastructure, but he do this, beyond a number of programmes in the United 491 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 492

[Allan Dorans] more that we can and should do to improve rehabilitation —I know the Justice Secretary speaks very powerfully States. One of the more successful of those is the Boys about his commitment to do that in the upcoming To Men youth programme, which claims to empower all Bill—but failings in one area do not excuse inaction in people to notice and intervene in potentially harmful another. situations before they become violent. The importance The absolute priority of the justice system should be of early educational interventions to prevent untreated to deliver justice for victims. In my experience, first and minor harassment from progressing to more serious foremost, people want to see those who have raped, harassment or physical violence is clear. A further US abused, maimed or murdered their family members study showed locked up for a long time, and at the moment our justice “a developmental pathway via the adolescents’ development of system is not delivering that frequently enough. The antisocial behaviour” highest starting point for the sexual assault of a child to male-to-female personal violence perpetration. under 13 is six years, with a range of just four to nine Nearly 45 years after the first reclaim the night protest, years, and every year dozens of child rapists are sentenced and just months after the death of Sarah Everard, it is to less than five years in prison. I would ask anybody to clear that women continue to feel unsafe on our streets. look in the eye a parent of a 12-year-old who has been Radical action is needed and it is needed now. We must sexually assaulted, and tell them that the perpetrator tackle the root cause of this harassment and violence on could be out of prison before their child has even the streets. For preventive action, we must develop reached adulthood and say that that is justice. I can tell legislation that makes misogyny a criminal offence, and you, Madam Deputy Speaker, that if somebody raped increase our awareness of and improve education about my niece or nephew, traumatising them and potentially aggressive masculinities. In short, we must take action robbing them of the joy of intimacy in their personal to change men’s behaviour and actions, and not simply lives forever, only that person spending most of the rest focus on what women need to do to keep themselves of their life in prison would satisfy me. safe. Across the board, I believe that we need—and, importantly, that the public support—a wholesale Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Rosie Winterton): A recalibration of criminal sentencing in this country. I number of people have withdrawn from this debate, so, think the term “life sentence” in itself is offensive to unusually, I am going to increase the time limit to four victims, implying as it does that in some way being on minutes. I know that normally the time gets shorter for licence is anything like being in prison, or even close to people at the end, but on this occasion there will be a what it is like living the real life sentence of being little longer for them. traumatised by a serious crime. The Government are acting decisively. By reducing 8.34 pm Labour’s early automatic release, in one simple step we will be delivering a huge increase in the time spent in Dr Kieran Mullan (Crewe and Nantwich) (Con): Thank prison by serious offenders, and I welcome that, but we you, Madam Deputy Speaker. remain some way off widespread confidence in our I begin by thanking the Home Secretary and the justice system, which can only come from increasing the Justice Secretary for the work that they do to make our sentences themselves. The Home Secretary and this streets safer, the commitment they show to the victims Justice Secretary have my full support in delivering on of crime and their determination to start bringing justice this agenda, and I ask them to keep listening to victims back into the justice system. Imprisonment for life for and families, who would be criminalised if they sought child murderers, keeping the most serious offenders justice on their own terms. The law requires them to ask behind bars for longer and the £4 billion extra over the the state to provide justice for them, and the state must next four years for 18,000 additional prison places are not let them down. incredibly encouraging steps and signify a direction of travel that we should all welcome. However, I hope that my right hon. and learned 8.37 pm Friend the Justice Secretary will forgive me if I use this Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith) (Lab) [V]: This Queen’s opportunity again to encourage the Government to go Speech displays a hostility towards democracy and the further. Ensuring that we have a justice system that rule of law, with a planning Bill that shifts power from more consistently delivers justice is one of the main elected local government to developers, which is a recipe reasons I got involved in politics. The harsh reality is for poorer-quality homes, the ruination of townscapes that, right now, if any of my friends and family were the and fewer affordable homes; a voter registration Bill victims of a serious crime, even with our planned reforms, that aims to disenfranchise millions because, in the I doubt very much that they would get what I would Conservative party’s opinion, they tend to vote the consider to be justice. wrong way; a freedom of speech Bill that will curtail I have talked before in this place about the intellectual and proscribe the freedoms of universities; a proposal snobbery that exists towards people who think that to hand the power to decide the date of the general those who commit serious offences should spend a very election, for party advantage, to the Prime Minister; a long time in prison. On the Justice Committee, there is renewed attempt to prevent public bodies considering an endless supply of well-meaning witnesses, who come human rights and international law in purchasing, to tell us about the reasons why people should not go to procurement and investment decisions; and, four years prison or should spend less time there. There is a whole after Grenfell Tower burned, a building safety Bill that swathe of lobbying and campaigning organisations that does not begin to address the malpractices that tragedy want prison reform, and they are right that there is exposed. 493 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 494

Three Bills in particular subjugate the individual to the and offline in the past week. I was appalled by a briefing state: the police Bill, the judicial review Bill and the borders that I received from the London Jewish Forum, which Bill. We are familiar with the police Bill—the Police, provided evidence of antisemitism both in professional Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. Parts 3 and 4 are a settings and on university campuses. The current conflict sustained attack on civil rights, curtailing free assembly in the middle east has triggered new spikes of antisemitism and free speech, and criminalising a way of life and the both online and offline in this country. ethnic groups who pursue it. This weekend, The Times As it currently stands in the draft Bill, only the largest carried a provocative article that advocated ending both and most popular platforms will be required to act on the requirement for local authorities to create Traveller content that is harmful to adults. That risks the most sites and the ethnic minority status of Gypsies and harmful content just moving to less prolific sites.Parliament Travellers. That just encapsulates the policy of this must protect the most vulnerable and ensure that the Home Secretary. Bill compels all platforms, regardless of their reach, to The borders Bill seeks to create two tiers of asylum remove harmful content and include robust digital policing. seekers, the lower of which—those with temporary I also hope that this Bill will give Ofcom the powers it protection status—will have fewer rights and harsher needs to hold the platforms to account. I welcome the treatment than now. That is likely to be in breach of the decision to include elements of economic crime within 1951 refugee convention, but this is a Government who the scope of the Bill. I am proud that City of London do not worry about obeying the law. The recent Faulks police, based in my constituency, is the national lead for inquiry into judicial review saw little to criticise in the economic and cyber-crime. Sadly, fraud is the fastest system of legal MOTs that has developed over decades, growing area of crime in the UK, with City of London and which mature Governments see as a means of road police currently receiving more than 800,000 reports a testing their decisions and powers. The Lord Chancellor year. The inclusion of fraud in the Bill will provide spurns the judgment of his own independent review and much-needed encouragement, particularly for online presses on with a far more aggressive attempt to clip the retailers and auction sites, to take responsibility for judges’ wings. He wants to change the law before he has protecting users and implementing counter-fraud strategies even seen the outcome of his review of the review. to prevent malicious content. There are shocking omissions here, too: no proposals Our digital safety is just as important as our physical for social care and no Bill to end no-fault evictions. safety.I welcome the Bills outlined in this Queen’s Speech, Areas such as Hammersmith are in the bottom league which I think will make us all safer and—equally for levelling-up funds, despite having some of the poorest importantly—make us feel safer, whether we are online communities in the country and having suffered the or walking in the street. deepest austerity cuts in the past decade. There is nothing here to stop private companies such as the greedy US 8.44 pm conglomerate Centene having free rein to buy up GP Alex Davies-Jones (Pontypridd) (Lab): Diolch, Madam practices across England. These are examples of bias, Deputy Speaker. May I place on record my personal self-interest and neglect at the heart of Government thanks to our incredible police and emergency service policy, but it is the trampling on civil liberties and workers, who have shown selfless service, bravery and constitutional rights that will make this otherwise forgettable professionalism throughout the pandemic? All of us, Queen’s Speech notorious. including our fantastic key workers, deserve to feel safe on our streets, yet violent crime has increased across 8.40 pm every police force over the past 11 years by a whopping Nickie Aiken (Cities of London and Westminster) 116%. Shockingly, this Government have still failed to (Con): There is much to welcome in the Queen’s Speech reward staff with a pay rise. that will make our streets safer, but in the short time Even with those horrific numbers, I am under no illusion that I have today—although I recognise that I have an that violent crime is the only issue that our police forces extra minute—I want to strongly welcome the focus in throughout the UK face. The key local problem that I the Gracious Speech on online safety.Life on the internet receive the most abuse for on social media, and that I should mirror what is and what is not acceptable offline. feel most powerless to tackle under this Government, is Very few people would abuse someone standing in the street, the increase in antisocial behaviour taking over the so why do it online? The draft Online Safety Bill signals streets of Pontypridd and Taff Ely. For so many people a step change for tech responsibility, bringing fairness who live in my constituency, especially in Beddau, and accountability to the online world. Placing children’s Tonyrefail, Church Village and Rhydyfelin, antisocial safety at the heart of this legislation is absolutely right. behaviour is destroying communities. Many people now In the UK, more than 10,000 offenders are caught feel scared to go outdoors alone late at night. every year involved in grooming and downloading indecent The behaviour can range from vandalism, graffiti images of children. That 50 years ago we put a man on and fly-tipping to aggressive car chasing designed to the moon, but in the third decade of the 21st century we intimidate and belittle those who live in our local cannot even prevent the uploading of toddlers and communities. Judging by the strength of feeling conveyed babies being abused is beyond me. It is shameful that it in the messages in my inbox, residents have just about has to be this Government to bring forward legislation had enough, and I know that they are not alone. Although to protect children from online paedophiles. It is partly my local force, South Wales police, has been fantastic in because the platforms themselves pay only lip service to its response to antisocial behaviour as well as to the protection. wider pandemic, ultimately its resources are overstretched. If left unchecked, a hostile online environment can This Government need to understand that the solution spill into concerning real-world actions. This has been to solving the crisis in order to keep our streets safe is made clear in the degree of antisemitism seen both online not a simple one. The coronavirus pandemic has had an 495 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 496

[Alex Davies-Jones] Down’s syndrome is taken advantage of—far-fetched to some viewers, yet that is the reality faced by our police enormous impact on young people, who have not been forces. These criminal groups are exploiting young and able to go to school, take their exams or see their friends vulnerable people. The men at the top are cowards who for months at a time. It is undeniable that young people use children to do their dirty work. These men often across the country have made huge sacrifices to support target children in care, who they see as easy prey. the fight against covid-19. This is not an issue that we I am sure most Members know that these networks should politicise; Governments of all political persuasions are referred to as county lines. They work across police across the devolved nations have had to make difficult and local authority boundaries. Drug networks are no decisions in the context of the pandemic and, sadly, longer just about big cities; they frequently operate in young people have been particularly affected. towns and villages. The National Crime Agency estimates When we speak about keeping our streets safe for all, that there are well over 700 county lines across England we need to be clear that the solution is not simply to and Wales, but it admits that the true number is difficult infiltrate our streets with a heightened police presence. to determine. St Helens is one of those towns. Many A minority of people in my area are undoubtedly Members will have had briefings from their local police engaged in serious forms of antisocial behaviour, and forces. I am personally aware of parents whose vulnerable there are real instances of intimidation, alcohol and children have been coerced into the drugs trade. The drug abuse, rallying in car parks and violence. It goes damage it does to families and communities is truly without saying that that is completely unacceptable, but heartbreaking. Local authorities, police commissioners the vast majority of young people I know have been and forces are bound by boundaries, but criminal groups exemplary, even when they have faced cancelled exams, are not concerned with boundaries. They have one home schooling and uncertainty about university places. priority: drug pushing. These criminals are doing well Of course it is vital to ensure that police have the from cross-boundary working, and they do not believe powers and resources that they need to tackle criminal that the police and the Government can keep up. It is and threatening behaviour, but we also need to ensure a the duty of Government to prove them wrong. It is a multi-agency approach to support young people through national problem that requires a national commitment this difficult time. Crucial to tackling the issue, particularly to resource and resolve. in rural communities such as mine, is regulating the role I will now turn to the issue of children and vulnerable of social media platforms, which may often directly or people caught up in this trade. Children—that is what indirectly encourage young people to participate in they are and that is how they should be treated—are not dangerous behaviour. This Government claim to be hardened criminals. They are exploited children. The committed to tackling online harms, yet their online cowards who criminally exploit children are no better safety Bill fails and falls extremely short of the mark. than the evil individuals who sexually exploit children. Far from being bold, the legislation in its current form Both should face the same shame and punishment for could allow social media companies to simply buy their the damage they have caused to our children and our way out of regulation by paying fines instead of facing society. These young and vulnerable people need help criminal sanctions. and support. When we speak about keeping people safe on our Often, it is children in care who are exploited. Children streets, we need to talk about crimes big and small. in care are the children of our nation. Collectively, we Quite rightly, the light is often shone on the most all have a duty to look out for them. It is the Government aggressive or violent crimes that take place across the who are ultimately responsible for these children, yet we country, but we must also remember that smaller, more in the Chamber must hold the Government to account frequent disturbances such as antisocial behaviour have for that duty. Children in care face a deteriorating a massive impact on wellbeing in local communities situation due to a lack of Government funding. It really such as mine. If the Lord Chancellor feels that I am is no surprise that criminal groups are managing to overplaying the impact of antisocial behaviour on my target these children with relative ease. Youth services area, I am sure that residents across Pontypridd and have been cut to the bare bone over the past decade of Taff Ely would welcome his visit with open arms as a austerity.Children are being left to the mercy of hardened chance to prove the extent of the issue. criminals. Ultimately, this Queen’s Speech has utterly failed to To stop county lines, a new national strategy will be address preventive services or approaches to tackling necessary. Police can and have closed many lines down, antisocial behaviour. If the Government are at all serious yet they need help. Children should be valued. The about keeping our streets safe for all, I wholeheartedly Government must provide better funding for children in urge them to work across the devolved nations, partnering education, public health, and youth and social services. with police forces and local authorities to take action now. There is no denying that county lines represents a huge challenge for the Government and police. The criminal 8.49 pm cowards have adapted, now the Government must do the same. The Government have the power to change Ms Marie Rimmer (St Helens South and Whiston) and to answer these problems, and resolve the issue for (Lab): It is a pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the these children and society as a whole. Member for Pontypridd (Alex Davies-Jones). “Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and the wee donkey” 8.53 pm is one of many memorable quotes from Ted Hastings in “Line of Duty”. The TV show has gripped the nation Miriam Cates (Penistone and Stocksbridge) (Con): and given the public an insight into how organised The first duty of any Government is to keep their criminal groups operate. In the show, a young man with citizens safe. I welcome the measures announced in the 497 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 498

Queen’s Speech that will strengthen our UK security introduce some of the most draconian measures this protections, including the Telecommunications (Security) country has ever seen to impose disproportionate control Bill and the counter state threats Bill. However, we must on free expression and the right to protest. In particular, also protect citizens from internal threats from criminals the Bill targets some of the most vulnerable and in our own country who seek to cause harm. I therefore marginalised people in this country. welcome the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, Successive Tory Governments have decimated our which will increase punishments for the most serious public services over the past 11 years. They have totally crimes. lost sight of the need to address the causes of crime, Even less serious crimes can blight people’s lives. with the predictable consequence of the rise in violent Over recent weeks, I have had numerous reports of crime in every single police-force area of England and antisocial behaviour in the areas of Stocksbridge, Deepcar Wales. The Government are making a habit of creating and Ecclesfield that is causing residents significant anxiety. legislation for a problem that they have invented or It was reassuring to meet our outstanding local police exaggerated while overlooking the real and difficult officers to discuss their plans to tackle these crimes. The issues. The problems in my constituency, like many additional £636 million boost to police funding this others, are not protest but serious violent crime, knife year and thousands of new recruits will have a big crime, county lines drug running, gang culture, violence impact on local policing, including reinforcing Deepcar against women and girls and persistent antisocial behaviour. police station in my constituency. To tackle all that, we need visible community policing. The measures in the Queen’s Speech will improve the After a decade of police cuts, Bedfordshire will finally detection, prosecution and punishment of crime, but we get some more police officers, paid for by council tax also need to increase our efforts to stop people from increases, but nowhere near as many as we need or were becoming criminals in the first place. The emergence of lost because of austerity. For many years I have been the Everyone’s Invited platform has highlighted the telling the Government that the funding formula for frightening number of sexual abuse crimes being committed Bedfordshire police does not work. The force covers not against women and girls. The Government recently only rural areas but large and growing urban conurbations released a report on the relationship between pornography and a main airport. Successive chief constables of use and harmful sexual attitudes and behaviours, and it Bedfordshire police and the former police and crime concluded that there was “substantial evidence” of an commissioner have said that the funding formula is not association between viewing pornography and harmful fit for purpose and needs to be urgently reviewed. behaviour towards women. Women and girls in this The force has made great strides in tackling violent country will not be safe until our children are protected crime and serious organised crimes. Such improvement from the destructive effects of pornography. was possible only because of an urgent funding grant. I welcome the laying out of the online harms Bill in There is an overflow of intelligence about crimes that is the Queen’s Speech and its publication in draft, but even not currently being developed because of the lack of if it passes swiftly through Parliament, realistically we resources. The force has had to find many millions in are perhaps two or more years away from the protections savings while the demands on it because of violent crime, being enacted. Part 3 of the Digital Economy Act 2017, sexual offences, domestic abuse, burglaries, fraud and which would enforce age verification for access to cyber-crime are ever rising. Instead of tackling those pornography sites, is ready to go, so I urge the Government things, the Government want to crack down on critical to implement that legislation now. Even if doing so is dissent—they are not being tough on crime or on the only a temporary measure until the passing of the causes of crime. online harms Bill, can we really wait any longer to The Queen’s Speech shows that rather than soundbites, provide protection for our children? policies are needed to come up with an effective preventive Family breakdown is another factor in criminalisation. strategy. Bedfordshire police know how to bring crime A quarter of all prisoners have been in care and 76% had levels down. They need a sustained level of increased absent fathers. If we really want to take crime seriously, funding. The bottom line is that until the funding we must reform family policy to strengthen family life, formula is fixed, the streets of Bedford and Kempston so I am delighted by the Government’s commitment in will not be as safe as they could and should be. the Queen’s Speech to give every child “the best start in life”. 8.59 pm I pay tribute to my right hon. Friend the Member for Colleen Fletcher (Coventry North East) (Lab): First, South Northamptonshire (Andrea Leadsom) for her I want to put on record my thanks to all those who outstanding and persistent work in that policy area. work in our public services, from the NHS to the police, I welcome the proposals in the Queen’s Speech. They from social care to local government, and from education will make my constituency of Penistone and Stocksbridge to public health. The people who work in our public and the whole UK a safer place to live, work and raise a services have borne the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic. family. Despite struggling against a backdrop of a decade of Tory cuts and underfunding, they have performed heroically 8.56 pm in their efforts to save lives, protect people and support Mohammad Yasin (Bedford) (Lab) [V]: The Police, communities. The past year and the covid-19 pandemic Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill is a Bill of two served only to underline how essential well-funded public halves. Many of my Labour colleagues had a hand in services are to protect and promote good health, address the development of much-needed new laws on the police inequalities, educate the next generation and keep our covenant, assaults on emergency workers, the Lammy streets safer. They are the lifeblood of a decent society review and the extension of whole-life orders, but whole and an essential element in enabling individuals and sections of the Bill have been hastily drafted and it will communities to develop and meet their potential. 499 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 500

[Colleen Fletcher] Our emergency service workers—we have stood up in this House and praised them time and again—deserve The Queen’s Speech gave the Government the the protections that we can offer them, so doubling the opportunity to acknowledge the importance of properly sentence for people who assault them is welcome. However, funded public services and to undo the damage their as my hon. Friend the Member for Penistone and austerity agenda caused. Although there are some welcome Stocksbridge (Miriam Cates) said, we also need to focus proposals, such as the online safety Bill, the Queen’s on the more bread-and-butter crimes: the rural crime Speech does nothing to address the damage caused by a issues that I just spoke about and which our PCC is decade of cuts, or reverse the Government’s long-standing looking at, such as speeding cars on our roads and ideological refusal to invest in our public services. It fly-tipping on our country lanes. That is what our does nothing to address the crisis in social care, to residents want us to be focused on, because that is what reverse the savage cuts inflicted on local government, to blights our communities. meet the challenges facing our NHS, to help our struggling However, we are also a nation of fair play and of schools or to tackle crime. doing the right thing, and for too long our immigration While the Government chase causes like electoral fraud, system has not matched that. As such, the new plan for they are seemingly happy to ignore the real concerns immigration brings in that sense of fair play for people that my constituents live with. In 2019, there were only who follow the rules and do the right thing. No more of four convictions for electoral fraud in the whole of the people throwing up new human rights concerns 24 hours UK, yet in the month of February, we had 600 antisocial before deportation that are spurious and meaningless: behaviour incidents in Coventry alone. now, we will reward people who follow the safe and legal route of coming to the UK when they need to, as The much-cherished model of community policing, well as tackle those who try to prey on people’s fears carefully nurtured and supported under Labour, no and get them to spend thousands of pounds in the hope longer exists. Indeed, I can cite numerous examples of of a brighter future, only to lead them down dangerous where crimes occurred, but no action was taken because routes. some residents no longer see any point in contacting the police, or live in fear of reprisals if they report crimes in My message to the Government on the Queen’s Speech their neighbourhoods. In many places, residents frequently is that there is so much—on crime, on policing, on observe thefts, street violence and drug dealing, to immigration, and on online harms—that we can be name but a few offences, but feel powerless to do proud of, but let us not lose sight of those bread-and-butter anything about it. That is not good enough. crime issues, such as fly-tipping and speeding cars, that our residents want us to be focusing on every day that However, I am pleased that in the west midlands we we are in this place. have returned Simon Foster as our Labour police and crime commissioner. He is committed to employing an 9.6 pm additional 450 community police officers throughout the west midlands, as well as fighting for the resources Gill Furniss (Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough) that we need. Of course, that will not deal with the (Lab): I start by congratulating Dr Alan Billings on problem in its entirety, but it will demonstrate to our his re-election as Labour’s South Yorkshire police and residents that the only party willing and capable of crime commissioner. Against a backdrop of immensely giving the resources that the police need is the Labour challenging circumstances, he has delivered on a range party. of initiatives to improve policing in this region, including the recently launched campaign to urge anyone experiencing domestic abuse to seek help and support. I also pay 9.2 pm tribute to South Yorkshire police and support workers, and to all our frontline workers, for their dedication to Antony Higginbotham (Burnley) (Con): I cannot speak duty during our recent covid troubles. in any debate on making our streets safer without first A decade of funding shortfalls has left our police thanking all the police officers and PCSOs of Burnley forces cut to the bone. The Home Office police core and Padiham police, who do a brilliant job of keeping settlement has remained at the same level it was back in us safe. I also want to put on record my enormous 2010, meaning a cut in real terms, and this is being felt congratulations to Andrew Snowden, our brilliant new on our streets: the number of police officers has fallen police and crime commissioner for Lancashire. I have by a staggering 20,000 since 2010. By comparison, known Andrew for quite a while, and he has the drive, between 2000 and 2010 under a Labour Government, passion and determination to tackle the issues that the number of police officers rose by 40,000. The matter most to residents, not just antisocial behaviour Government’s target of recruiting 20,000 more police in our towns, which he will tackle, but rural crime. I am officers would just scratch the surface, after a decade of really pleased that he is already looking at doubling the severe underfunding has left our streets less safe. I was rural task force that Lancashire police have set up. surprised earlier today to hear the Home Secretary talk There is so much in the Queen’s Speech for us to be to us—boast, really—about the rape strategy, and tell optimistic and pleased about. I am privileged to be a us how no delays would hold this up. I remind the member of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Home Secretary that the rape review was announced Public Bill Committee, which starts in earnest tomorrow. over two years ago, and no action has been taken on it The Bill is particularly welcome. I have yet to meet since. I urge her to hold sure to her word. anyone who thinks we should continue with the automatic Since 2010, knife crime across the UK has risen by a release of violent and sexual offenders halfway through staggering 50%, and in South Yorkshire it has nearly their sentence. Not a single person has told me that they doubled. Despite repeated promises, the Government think that is a good idea. have continually failed to get a grip on this issue, which 501 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 502 is still leaving too many families grieving. We urgently Office took the decision to send enforcement officers need a national strategy of early intervention to get knives into Pollokshields in Glasgow to take part in a despicable off our streets. Roughly a fifth of knife crime offenders raid to deport two of its residents. The people of Glasgow, are aged between 10 and 17, so schools and local however, had a different idea and gathered in numbers organisations have a vital part to play in educating successfully to stop that inhumane practice continuing. children on the dangers of knives from a very young age. Raids of that type are a clear infringement of basic My friend and newly elected Labour councillor, Safiya human rights and must be condemned in the strongest Saeed, has done commendable voluntary work in this area possible manner. The SNP and the people of Scotland over a number of years. Using funding from the South have repeatedly condemned the practice due to its inhumane Yorkshire violence reduction fund, Big Brother Burngreave approach. engages with young people on the streets and from In Glasgow, we welcome refugees and we celebrate referrals from social care and schools who may be at the diversity of our wonderful city,turning out in numbers risk of falling into knife crime, and runs weekly activities to prevent those men from being deported during a ranging from football matches to mental health workshops. global pandemic, but if we are to make the streets safe Initiatives such as these could save lives. for all, that must mean everyone, including refugees and However, at the heart of all this is the need for more asylum seekers. The Home Office must act immediately resources: not just more police officers on our streets, to halt its hostile home raids and work to develop an but funding for a range of schemes such as amnesty immigration system based on dignity and respect. bins and early intervention through schools and local A Queen’s Speech is the hallmark of a Government authorities. We cannot sit back and watch as more and and how they take care of the most vulnerable citizens more young people lose their lives in these tragic in society. As we approach the 70th anniversary of the circumstances. There has been enough talking on this refugee convention, we witness this Government ripping issue: we need action, and we need it now. The first apart the basic, fundamental rights of refugees and responsibility of a Government is ensuring the safety of asylum seekers; and as we witness 50 years of the Misuse their citizens. However, while violent crime is rising, the of Drugs Act 1971, it is completely absent from the Government are not rising to the challenge. A decade of debate on the Queen’s Speech, with not even a mention funding shortfalls and the lack of a coherent strategy to of its failure to tackle the war on drugs. My hon. Friend tackle knife crime has left our streets less safe. Instead the Member for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch of warm words and empty promises, we need urgent East (Stuart C. McDonald) has already alluded to and comprehensive action to get a grip on these horrific many of these points, but the threats to the legal profession, crimes, which shatter families and our communities. the attacks on the justice system, the overhaul of the judicial review process, the clamping down on protest, 9.10 pm and voter suppression are just some examples of this Government’s priorities. Angela Crawley (Lanark and Hamilton East) (SNP): May I take this opportunity to welcome my hon. Friend I have only a few seconds left, so let me say that this the Member for Airdrie and Shotts (Anum Qaisar-Javed), Queen’s Speech is a measure of this Government, and if congratulate her on her recent by-election win, and they will not act, they should give Scotland the power to wish her predecessor well in the Scottish Parliament? do so. On immigration, asylum, refugees and drugs, we do not have the powers in Scotland; this Government I welcome the opportunity to speak in today’s debate do, and they must act. on the Queen’s Speech, on the topic of ensuring that our streets are a safe place for all. As we heard from my 9.14 pm hon. Friend the Member for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock (Allan Dorans), that is a fitting subject, as the debate Ruth Jones (Newport West) (Lab): I am grateful to follows the tragic murder of Sarah Everard, a woman you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for allowing to me to who was simply walking home following a night out speak in this important debate. with friends. If we are to ensure that the streets are a This Tory Government talk about bobbies on the safe place for all, women must feel secure walking them. beat, but they fail to take the tough decisions needed to We did not then, and we do not now. address their dismal management of the criminal justice At the time of Sarah’s murder, I called on the UK system. Under the Conservatives, criminals have never Government to use deeds,not words,to tackle gender-based had it so good. Over the past 11 years, we have witnessed violence and finally ratify the Istanbul convention, yet this Conservative Government slashing police officer despite signalling their intent to do so on several occasions, numbers and preventive services, and withdrawing the Government have failed to stick to their word. The neighbourhood policing. They are soft on crime and rights of women enshrined in the convention are soft on the causes of crime. Their policies will have no fundamental and would prevent violence against women, impact on crime, and nor will they keep the good people protect victims and enable the prosecution of offenders. of Newport West safe if cases take years to be heard However, as a result of the UK’s failure to ratify the and victims do not get the support they deserve. convention, it is not legally bound by its provisions, This Queen’s Speech does nothing to address the years letting down women, girls and domestic abuse survivors of cuts that central Government have made to police in Scotland and across the UK. I therefore urge the forces throughout England and Wales. Attacks on Minister to use this Queen’s Speech to take us one step emergency service workers have increased by 50% over closer to safe streets for all by ratifying the Istanbul the past five years, with violent crime rising by 116% and convention as a matter of urgency. the number of violent crime suspects down by 26%. The debate also follows the religious celebration of We all know that the last year has had a devastating Eid. At a time when many across the country marked impact on our public services, and the courts system is the end of Ramadan, this Government and their Home no different. Indeed, I have raised this issue directly 503 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 504

[Ruth Jones] impact on me personally, particularly while I am elected, but it still affects me personally, because like so many with the Lord Chancellor, who, like all good Welshmen, people, I find it almost unbearable to live under a was very courteous in his response. I want to say a Government who care so little about people’scivil liberties; special thank you to all the public sector workers who who care even less about the human rights of people work in the justice system—from court clerks to county who come to us desperate for refuge; and who, instead court judges, they have all worked tirelessly to make of celebrating different cultures and ways of life, punish sure that justice is done. I fear, however, that Ministers those who are simply trying to live those lives. think that we are as blind as Lady Justice. They must It is, however, possible to take a human rights approach think that we did not see the long backlog of criminal and actually mean it. There are political parties that cases that was present even before the pandemic. They people can believe in. In Scotland, refugees and 16 and must think that we have not noticed that, rather than 17-year-olds can now vote. We are opening voting up to taking steps to ensure that the justice system flows more people. This Tory Government will require people smoothly and operates fairly, they have simply put up to have photographic ID or lose their vote. Barriers and barriers for the people I represent in Newport West and voter suppression are not what we expect from the across the country. so-called bastion of democracy. Black and minority ethnic people make up a far The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill will larger percentage of those arrested for and charged with allow vehicles to be confiscated from Gypsy Travellers crimes than they represent in society. Sadly, that number for pretty minor offences in England and Wales, even if keeps increasing. What steps is the Lord Chancellor the vehicle is their home. In Scotland, we produced an taking to address this discrimination? action plan in conjunction with Traveller communities, I want to take this opportunity to express my sympathy and in case the Home Secretary is wondering, the for and solidarity with the families of Moyied Bashir purpose is to improve lives. and Mohamud Hassan, two young men from south Wales who tragically lost their lives well before their In the UK, there will be longer jail terms for those time. Mohamud lost his life shortly after spending time who topple statues honouring chattel slave owners than in police custody, and Moyied died shortly after his for those subjecting other human beings to modern-day family called the police for assistance. I am aware that slavery. Under the SNP, a move away from soft versus an investigation is ongoing, so I will not say any more, hard justice and a focus on smart justice has led to but I am keen to work with Ministers and the relevant Scotland having the lowest reconviction rates in 21 years. authorities, as well as the families, to ensure that nothing The SNP will shortly establish a new £100 million like this can happen again. fund to focus on the prevention of violence against Sadly, Mohamud is not the only person to die in the women and girls. I ask for the umpteenth time: when care of the state. Recent research by the Howard League are this Government going to ratify the Istanbul convention? shows that deaths in prisons are up 42% in England and On that note, as Labour colleagues have asked, when is Wales from the previous year. Four hundred and eight the review by the right hon. Member for Tottenham people died in prison custody in the year to the end of (Mr Lammy) going to be implemented? March 2021—a significant rise compared with the 287 who Of course, our two Governments see things very died during the previous 12 months—including 79 people differently. The shameful dawn raids that have started who lost their lives through suicide. again in Glasgow shone a light on the difference between There is a high number of deaths in south Wales’s callous and compassionate government. I thank the overcrowded prisons. I understand that it is never popular peaceful, sober and tidy people of Pollokshields for the to invest in prisons, but people do not deserve to die way in which they conducted themselves as they showed well before their time, especially those to whom the state two of their neighbours that they are welcome in Scotland. owes a duty of care. In Wales, it is our privatised prison, I echo the condemnation that we have heard of antisemitism HMP Parc, run by G4S, that has the highest proportion and all forms of racism and discrimination, including of deaths. Will the Lord Chancellor tell the House Islamophobia and anti-Catholicism, which have never about this Government’s plans for prison privatisation? gone away but have reared their truly ugly heads again Will more prisons be handed over to the private sector? recently. If so, what steps will he take to ensure that the high I abhor the plans to clamp down on people peacefully number of deaths among prisoners is not repeated in demonstrating. The right to do so is a cornerstone of any other prisons? If that is not the case, when can we any democracy. I may not need to demonstrate outside expect Parc to be taken back into public hands? We the UK Parliament, because I can speak my mind inside, need to know what steps Ministers will take to ensure and I plan to stop being an MP only when Scotland is that this unacceptable death toll is tackled, and tackled independent and we therefore have no need to demonstrate now. Will the Lord Chancellor tell me what mental in England. But even if independence was happening health support is available to prisoners and at what next week, I would not leave this Parliament without stage support becomes available? Surely a prison sentence fighting for the right of every person on these islands to should not become a death sentence. protest. Right now, the people of Scotland must have the right to protest policies that impact on their lives 9.18 pm over which we have no control, and we must be allowed Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow North East) (SNP) [V]: I to protest at the seat of power, and that means this want people out there to know that being an MP does Parliament. not stop that feeling of utter despair at times, and that is I end by paying tribute to the Women Against State the best way to describe how I feel when I look at what Pension Inequality campaigners, who are to be banned the UK Home Office has planned. Much of it will not from doing as they did so brilliantly, so eloquently and 505 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 506 so peacefully before the pandemic—that is, demonstrating crime. To take just one example, research by Greater across the road in Parliament Square. They came here Manchester police revealed that Stockport ranks second to get support and they got it. They came here to raise in the region in vehicle nuisance incident logs relating to awareness and they did. They came here to be seen and off-road bikes. Despite this, since 2010 the Government heard, and they were, but if this legislation goes through have cut the grant they provide to Greater Manchester and the proposed exclusion zone is brought in, they can by £215 million, and as a result we now have 2,000 fewer come here no more—to their Parliament to protest their bobbies on the beat on our streets and 1,000 fewer Government to protect their rights—and that is all support staff. This is nothing short of scandalous and is kinds of wrong. compounded by the fact that the Government support to Stockport Council has been slashed, further harming 9.22 pm community drives to cut crime. Navendu Mishra (Stockport) (Lab) [V]: The Queen’s We cannot overlook the impact that Government Speech was another opportunity for the Government to cuts have had on community groups and organisations provide proper funding for our public services and across the country, including youth services, mental make our streets safer, after a decade of cuts which has health services, our probation service, and other preventive led to rising crime across the nation. Once again, this services. Cutting these services has clearly had a significant Government have failed to grasp that opportunity. effect on crime. Our communities should no longer be The Secretary of State opened this debate by stating blighted by this Government’s chronic underfunding of that police and community programmes: they deserve far, “no one… should be made to feel unsafe when walking our far better. streets.” Well, the fact is that the Home Secretary talks a good game, but her rhetoric does not match up with the 9.26 pm reality.Indeed, last year, research by her own Department Tonia Antoniazzi (Gower) (Lab): I mostly welcome named the falling number of police officers since 2010 the Government’s commitments to tackling crime and as a “contributory factor” to the rising number of to addressing violence, particularly violence against women murders in Britain, alongside drugs and terror attacks. and girls. The review of the criminal justice response to In 2019, the current Metropolitan Police Commissioner rape is long overdue, and some say that rape has effectively was forced to admit that there was a link between been decriminalised. violent crime on the streets and police numbers, particularly To find effective solutions we must fully understand in relation to rising knife crime. the problem, and accurate data is key in tackling the The Government have said they will provide 20,000 causes of crime, protecting the public, providing justice new officers by 2022. However, that will only serve to to victims, and rehabilitating offenders. Data must be plug some of the hole left by the 21,000 police that were accurately sex-disaggregated in order to fully understand cut between 2010 and 2019. Furthermore, it will mean the impact of all crimes on women and girls. In order to thousands of new and inexperienced officers being out combat sexism, we need to count sex, and in order to on duty, which is far from a like-for-like replacement. It combat discrimination against other groups, there is a is little more than taking with one hand and giving with need to record separate and additional data. The offending the other. We can only assume that the decision to patterns of men and of women show the highest differential return the police force to numbers similar to those of of all, so we need to monitor the sex of victims and of more than a decade ago is an acknowledgement by this perpetrators of all crimes. For example, the proportion Government that police austerity has failed. Indeed, of women among those prosecuted in 2019 was 2% for there is a direct parallel between the fall in police sexual offences, 8% for robbery, and 7% for possession numbers and violent crime rising in every police force of a weapon. over the past 11 years, with violent crime up by 116% We all want to live in a society that is respectful and and the number of violent crime suspects down by 26%. tolerant and strives for equality. Gender reassignment is This Government’s failed approach has had a direct rightly a protected characteristic and we must respect impact on police and crime figures in my own constituency the privacy of transgender people, but in order to protect of Stockport and right across Greater Manchester. everyone when it comes to official records of offences, Recently I met representatives from Stockport Council, particularly against women and girls, we need accurate Greater Manchester police and Stockport Homes to records of the biological sex of the victims and the discuss incidents in the local community. My special perpetrators of crime, in addition to data on the gender thanks go to the brilliant antisocial behaviour team at identity of victims and perpetrators. Why then are Stockport Homes led by Sinead and Clare. At the time I police forces recording the self-identified gender of victims was reassured by the measures that had been put in of suspected offenders and not their biological sex? I place at a local level. I pay tribute to the hard work of understand that at least 16 regional police forces now Superintendent Marcus Noden and Inspector Ian Ashenden record suspects’ sex on the basis of gender identity, of Greater Manchester police’s Stockport division, as following the advice of the National Police Chiefs’ well as the entire team at Stockport police, for supporting Council. Data based only on self-identified gender does our community. I am also grateful to the teams at not give accurate data on which to build a violence Stockport Homes and Stockport Council for working against women and girls strategy, nor to effectively plan alongside my office in supporting victims of antisocial services that support all victims and target all perpetrators behaviour. whatever their sex or however they identify. But the brutal truth is that many of these organisations If police records are not robust and correctly are facing an uphill battle, with many budgets having disaggregated by sex, we end up with unreliable and been pared down to the bone, and these shoestring budgets potentially misleading data in reporting. For example, are being stretched even further in the face of rising the BBC asked 45 regional police forces in the UK for 507 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 508

[Tonia Antoniazzi] to court for the very first time. When she finally arrived, finally hoping to get justice, she was told that her case data on reported cases of female perpetrators’ child sex would be delayed yet again. It is no wonder she told the abuse from 2015 to 2019. The data received indicated BBC that she felt she had been “let down constantly”. It that there was an increase of 84%. Data corruption is no wonder she now wishes she did had not reported it means that we cannot tell whether this large increase is in the first place, and it is no wonder she now wants to due to an increase in female offenders or those identifying move on with her life. She said: as women, and that detail matters. “I have to take my anti-depressants and stuff like that…to feel Women make up 3% of the arrests for all sexual a little bit better”. offences. The number of women convicted for these That is just one voice among the tens of thousands of crimes is so low that the misrecording of the sex of the victims being let down by this Conservative Government— perpetrator skews the data very quickly. Where offence just one victim in the record-breaking 57,000 criminal categories are very rarely committed by women, the cases facing delays, and just one victim compared with addition of just one or two people can have a significant the 773,000 victims of sexual assault or rape last year. impact on data. For example, a biological man convicted Only 1.4% of those cases will result in the suspect being of attempted murder and other offences at Birmingham charged. Crown court in 2017 was recorded as female, thus falsely elevating the number of females convicted of Under the Conservatives, rapists and other criminals attempted murder that year in England and Wales by have never had it so good. Convictions for rape, robbery, around 20%. Weneed to know what action the Government theft, criminal damage, arson, drug offences and fraud will take to ensure correct police record keeping and have all fallen to a 10-year low under this Government. prevent the potential corruption of data on crimes and The total number of convictions has collapsed from their impact on women and girls. 570,000 in 2010, when Labour left office, to 338,000 in 2020, after a decade of Conservative rule. More than a 9.31 pm million victims dropped out last year before trials began, including more than one in four of all criminal cases Mr David Lammy (Tottenham) (Lab): It is an honour and nearly half of all alleged rape victims. Victims of to close this debate on behalf of the Opposition. We crime are being locked out of court and left in the cold have had some powerful speeches from those on the because of delays that this Government created. Opposition Benches. I will come to those on the Government Benches in a moment, but on justice, I The backlog in the Crown court is at a record high of mention the speeches of my right hon. Friends the 57,000 cases, and it sat at 39,000 even before the pandemic Members for Torfaen (Nick Thomas-Symonds) and for began. The pandemic made the backlog worse, but it Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper), was created by the Conservatives closing half of all our my hon. Friends the Members for Westminster North courts in England and Wales between 2010 and 2019 (Ms Buck) and for Mitcham and Morden (Siobhain and allowing 27,000 fewer sitting days than in 2016. All McDonagh), my right hon. Friend the Member for the measures Labour called for to keep delays down Kingston upon Hull North (Dame Diana Johnson), my during the pandemic were ignored. Mass testing in hon. Friends the Members for Hammersmith (Andy courts—forget it. The roll-out of Nightingale courts to Slaughter), for Bedford (Mohammad Yasin), for Coventry the number that was called for by Her Majesty’s Courts North East (Colleen Fletcher) and for Sheffield, Brightside and Tribunals Service—no chance. Temporarily reduced and Hillsborough (Gill Furniss), the hon. Member for juries so that more trials could continue in a way that Glasgow North East (Anne McLaughlin), my hon. was safe—ignored. What have we been left with? A Friends the Members for Stockport (Navendu Mishra), court system that punishes only victims and lets criminals for St Helens South and Whiston (Ms Rimmer), and for get away with murder—literally. Pontypridd (Alex Davies-Jones), and my hon. Friend This Government are failing victims on every front. the Member for Gower (Tonia Antoniazzi), from whom More than a quarter of all crimes are not being prosecuted we have just heard. because the victims are dropping out of the process On the Government Benches, the Secretary of State entirely. That means that 1 million victims every year would do well to think hard about what was said by the are being failed by the very system designed to protect hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Sir Robert them. On top of denying justice through delays, this Neill), and his remonstrations on remote juries and Government have so far failed at the simple task of judicial review in particular. He would do well to listen enshrining victims’ legally enforceable rights. The to the right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Conservatives have promised a victims Bill in almost Green (Sir Iain Duncan Smith) on pet theft—I wonder every Queen’s Speech since 2016 and in the past three whether the right hon. Gentleman will be supporting manifestos, but five years on, their Bill still has not the Opposition amendments on that issue. He would do appeared in Parliament. This Government are all style well to listen to the concerns of the right hon. Member and no substance, all talk and no walk. for Romsey and Southampton North (Caroline Nokes) Where the Tories fail to step up, Labour has stepped about violence against women and law enforcement. in. Victims do not need warm words; they need a Bill, But I want to concentrate on those outside the House. and that is why we drafted one. Labour has its victims Last October, a woman in her twenties spoke to the Bill published, brought to Parliament and ready to go. BBC about the most traumatic day of her life—the day Instead of publishing a Bill in draft, the Government she was raped. It was not only the violation she suffered should work with us to implement the victims Bill that day that caused her distress, but what came after. immediately. That will finally enshrine the rights of Instead of quickly punishing her attacker, the state victims of crime and those who suffer persistent anti- made this woman wait three years before her case came social behaviour. 509 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 510

When rapists run free and victims suffer the indignity in our other jurisdictions who have worked tirelessly to of being denied justice, the Government have made make sure that, almost alone in the western world, we their twisted priorities clear. The British public value have kept our system going. We have been able to deal democracy,accountability,the independence of the courts with a huge number of cases not just in person, but and the right of the public to challenge the Government remotely. That is the result of investment in technology when they break the law. This Government do not share and in extra staff to assist the judiciary to carry out its those values.Judicial review is a key part of our constitution. important work. I also think of all those incredible It is the only way that members of the public and public servants in our prison system—prison officers, organisations can challenge the Government and other probation officers and support staff—who went more public bodies when they act unlawfully. Even after their than just an extra mile. It is almost difficult to explain own panel advised against making the widespread changes some of the sacrifices that staff made during the height to judicial review that they desire, the Government’s of the pandemic to make sure that they could safely do plans are being pushed ahead. their job and save lives, which is what they did, in our Why have the Government announced a further prison system. I think the whole House will join me in consultation exclusively on the use of ouster clauses paying warm tribute to them for the work that they have when their own review explicitly said that they should done, which has allowed us to recover and, indeed, to not do that? Why is the Ministry of Justice prioritising rebuild and to work in a better way to make sure that messing with our constitution when it is presiding over justice is delivered. a victims crisis and record court delays? This Secretary of State really has skewed priorities. Get on with solving There were many excellent contributions in this debate. the crime against women, victims and girls. Stop fiddling Members from all parts of the House made some around with judicial review. Stop joining with colleagues thought-provoking points. I want to pay particular to play games with our democracy, the right to vote and tribute to my hon. Friends the Members for Hyndburn IDs. (Sara Britcliffe), for Crewe and Nantwich (Dr Mullan) and for Cities of London and Westminster (Nickie Victims’ rights need to be further up the Secretary of Aiken). The point that my hon. Friend the Member for State’s list of priorities. That is why today we published Hyndburn made about places of safety under the Mental a Green Paper on ending the epidemic of violence Health Act 1983 is an important one, which my right against women and girls. We plan to make misogyny a hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and I take hate crime—will the Secretary of State do it? We will very seriously. I will look at the issues that she raises increase sentences for rapists and stalkers—will he do with regard to that statutory operation. Through good it? Wewill create new,specific offences for sexual harassment operational practice, I know that more and more mental and sex for rent—will he do it? We will reverse the health trusts are working sensitively with patients to Government’s record low conviction rates for rape—will make sure that those provisions need not be triggered, he do it? We will remove legal barriers that prevent but I will take up the matter further with her at her request. victims of domestic abuse from getting help when they need it through legal aid—will he give legal aid back to My hon. Friend the Member for Crewe and Nantwich, those who have suffered domestic abuse? We will bring as he always does, including in his work on the Justice in new custodial sentences for those who name victims Committee, stood up eloquently and strongly for the of rape and sexual assault. We will train teachers to victims of crime and for his constituents. help identify, respond to and support child victims of domestic abuse. We will repeal the rape clause for social I am particularly grateful to my hon. Friend the Member security claims and introduce binding national indicators for Cities of London and Westminster who, quite rightly to hold the Government to account. That is a and with some eloquence, talked about online harms comprehensive plan. and how the work that my colleagues in the Department My question to the Government is simple. Violence for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport are doing with against women and girls is a stain on our society. We regard to strengthening the law will make us a world cannot wait to act anymore. Will the Government work leader in dealing with the sad menace of online child with us to implement our Bill and end this brutality? If abuse, which is every bit as evil and pernicious and has they do not, they will force more victims of rape, as many victims as abuse does offline. domestic abuse, assault and violence to give up hope. As I was particularly interested in the contribution of Helen Keller said: the hon. Member for St Helens South and Whiston (Ms “Women have discovered that they cannot rely on Rimmer), who spoke well about county lines. She made men’s chivalry to give them justice.” some powerful points about the fact that these lines Women need legislation. Why will this Secretary of stretch into our towns and smaller communities just as State not act? much as they do into our cities. She rightly acknowledged the work that the police are doing to disrupt and indeed 9.39 pm to end quite a lot of this activity. I particularly agreed The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice with her point about unaccompanied children and the (Robert Buckland): It is a pleasure and an honour to abuse of children by those responsible for that organised wind up this day of debate on the Gracious Speech, crime. She will be glad to know that, increasingly, the with particular regard to keeping our streets safe. It is police take a far more delicate and sensitive approach to important to start my remarks by paying warm and the way in which children are safeguarded as a result of deep tribute to all the dedicated public servants in the the abuse. In other words, not every child will be, or criminal justice system who have done so much to keep should be, a defendant. In fact, very often, the opposite the wheels of justice turning. I think of the court staff should be the case.The work of protection and safeguarding in our Crown courts, our magistrates courts and, indeed, is vital if we are to cut off the abuse and the grooming 511 Debate on the Address17 MAY 2021 Debate on the Address 512

[Robert Buckland] Let us remind ourselves of the key purposes of the Government’s approach to the reforms we are making. that goes on, which is every bit as pernicious as other The first is to better protect the public whom we serve. types of grooming that we see in other types of criminal That has to be at the heart of what we are doing, activity. particularly in making sure that Labour’s policy of automatic early release is progressively ended. The second My hon. Friend the Member for Penistone and is to increase public confidence in our system of justice. Stocksbridge (Miriam Cates) made, I think, one of the Those of us who spend a lot of our time talking to most important points in this debate: that family residents on the doorstep and working with them will breakdown, sadly, remains a key driver of crime in constantly be struck by the gulf that sometimes exists many, many cases. Her support for the Government’s between those of us who are close to the system and radical policies on early years intervention and development those who feel there is a disconnection between what is is warmly welcomed. The work being done by my right happening in our criminal justice system and what is hon. Friend the Member for South Northamptonshire happening in our communities. (Andrea Leadsom), which is supported across Government, Why are these things important and why is this will yield real and generational change when it comes to disconnection of great importance? Because I firmly our understanding of early years development and of believe, as do the Government, that safer communities how, sadly, in too many cases, the experiences of early are stabler ones, and that the more stable a community years can be a predictor of, first, school exclusion and becomes, the more able it will be to grow and flourish then later a descent into crime. economically, culturally, socially and, indeed, spiritually. I think all of us in this House understand that those That is what I regard as true levelling up, which is why interventions need to be made, and doing it better will the criminal justice policies of this Government are a solve problems that all too often become problems my crucial part of that agenda. Department has to deal with. I cannot emphasise strongly I am conscious of time, but I will make this observation. enough that the Ministry of Justice cannot solve these The Bill that we have brought back in this second problems alone; it is a cross-governmental and, indeed, Session is but the latest stage in a number of measures cross-agency approach that will truly help to turn the that we have taken in the last two years to improve the tide when it comes to the drivers of crime. approach we take to criminal justice. In that time, two counter-terrorism Bills that strengthened sentencing for I am proud to be part of a Government who get that, the most serious terrorists and improved the way in and through the criminal justice taskforce, chaired by which we supervise them on licence have been enacted. my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, we are working Last September, I published the sentencing White already to make the sort of interventions that can Paper. As a result of that, we ended automatic halfway reduce reoffending. Indeed, such interventions—whether release for serious violent and sexual offenders serving it be the £70 million in increased offender accommodation seven years or more. Indeed, we increased the range of on release from custody, the £80 million in increased sentences that are now referrable to the Court of Appeal drug treatment support, or the roll-out of community as unduly lenient. On top of that, we have committed £4 sentence treatment requirements that I believe will give billion to making progress on the delivery of 18,000 sentencers a much deeper and richer choice of sentences— additional prison places across England and Wales. will, I believe, make a difference in the long term. That is vital, and it comes on top of an additional £315 I am also grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for million to improve the condition of our existing estate. Burnley (Antony Higginbotham), who speaks so strongly When it comes to supporting victims, I say this to the for residents in his community in Lancashire. He taps in right hon. Member for Tottenham (Mr Lammy): we are and understands their concerns, hopes and fears, and I taking action. Not only are we going to advance the believe that he represents them with passion and eloquence. victims law but we have published the revised victims code, which came into force last month and was supported With the greatest of respect to Labour Members, by all parts of the sector. We have invested just under some of the observations they made would have carried, £151 million in victim and witness support services, in my submission, more conviction had they supported including an extra £51 million to support rape and the Second Reading of the Police, Crime, Sentencing domestic abuse victims. Of course, the landmark Domestic and Courts Bill. That was an opportunity for Labour Abuse Act 2021 that this Government pushed for has Members to match their warm words with deeds. They been passed—with support, I accept, from all parts of failed to take that opportunity. They failed to support the House. the balanced measures we are taking on sentencing and, The right hon. Gentleman sometimes reminds me of indeed, the wider approach we are taking to improve the bad prosecutor: he might have a few good points, the way in which the criminal justice system responds. It but he over-eggs the pudding with a poorly presented was a more than disappointing moment; it was in many case. With the greatest of respect to him, that is what ways a bewildering moment, because Labour Members happened tonight. I commend the Government’s at one time said that we were not going far enough, and programme on law and order to the House. then in the debate said that we were going too far. Now I really do not know where they are, or perhaps they do Ordered, That the debate be now adjourned.—(David not know where they are. [Interruption.] Oh, I will T. C. Davies.) come to the amendments when we come to debate the Debate to be resumed tomorrow. Bill in greater detail. 513 17 MAY 2021 Ukraine 514

Ukraine Since coming back from that trip, I have kept up contact with people I met—politicians, civil society Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House groups and members of the public—in the capital and do now adjourn.—(David T. C. Davies.) the east, to stay in touch and ensure that as a parliamentarian I am as informed as possible. Their worry, concern and anxiety right now, today, is higher 9.51 pm than they have ever felt it since the days when the Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Glasgow South) (SNP): conflict broke out. I am grateful for this opportunity to discuss the situation When we look at the current military projection from in Ukraine. I will let the Minister get to his seat before the Russian Federation to the borders of Ukraine, we get into it. It has been some time since the House although there has been a very small drawback, the war debated this issue, and we have even been given an extra rages in the east, the illegal annexation of Crimea nine minutes this evening to do so, although I do not continues and a blockade is now taking place against intend to detain colleagues any longer than is absolutely the sea of Azov. I ask the Minister to be frank at the necessary. I should declare an interest as a holder of the Dispatch Box in telling the House whether that blockade order of merit, which was kindly awarded to me in 2019 of the sea of Azov and the Kerch strait represents a by President Zelensky as a friend of Ukraine. breach of the UN law of the sea and of the agreement It would be remiss of me not to remark on the between Kiev and Moscow on how the sea of Azov fact—although I appreciate that this is not the Minister’s should be managed. territory as far as his portfolio goes—that as we debate As I am sure the Minister would expect, I want to the situation in Ukraine right now, there is a blazing talk a little about the Government’s response. I criticise conflict in the middle east between Israel and Palestine the UK Government day in, day out—that is my job as that cannot have failed to shock Members of the House an Opposition politician—but I think that their support and members of the Government, not least the bombing to Ukraine, particularly but not just in military terms, is of a building containing the offices of the Associated one of their better outfits, shall we say. I know that that Press and al-Jazeera. But I will leave that there for now, really matters in the capital of Ukraine; it has my Madam Deputy Speaker. support, for sure, and that of anyone who wants stability and peace in the country and the wider region. I applied for this debate some time ago, when the escalating situation on the Russia- Ukraine border was However, I have to come to sanctions policy and to the big military news story at the time. We have seen an the red herring that is Nord Stream 2. I am afraid that intense build-up of personnel and heavy equipment on we have had debate after debate and question after land, air and sea and, contrary to what some believed to question in the House about the Government’s position be a major drawback from the border by the Russian on Nord Stream 2, which seems to be, “It’s nothing to side, that border is still heavily militarised and the do with us, guv.” Indeed, I remember that when Alan drawback is nowhere near what some seem to think it is. Duncan was Minister for Europe, that was exactly the Indeed, the situation right now on the contact line in position that he would answer written questions with, the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine remains as bad as although I am not sure whether it made it into his it has been since the conflict started. Just this year diaries: that the matter was not seen as a priority or an alone, since the end of December, 37 Ukrainian soldiers immediate threat and was therefore nothing to do with have been killed and 74 have been wounded, some of the United Kingdom Government. whom have probably died as a result of their wounds. That is a false position to take. Although the UK has left the European Union, it is still the case—not least by It is also worth remembering that Ukraine is one of dint of the UK’s position as a NATO member state, and the most infested places on earth as far as landmines are a founding member state at that—that European security concerned. I pay particular tribute to the work of the matters. Nord Stream 2 represents an enormous threat HALO Trust, which does an incredible job of de-mining to European security and European stability, so I would in Ukraine, although not just in Ukraine. The Minister like the Government to show some muscle. Right now, would expect me to speak up for the funding that his what I can see is that the only person standing in the Department provides to the trust for its work there and way of Nord Stream 2 as it is supposed to operate is the elsewhere, such as in Syria. It is vital that the cut to leader of the German Green party, Annalena Baerbock. international aid funding should not result in a cut to If she and her party are successful in forming part of efforts to de-mine what is a European country, as is all the coalition after the federal elections in September, too often forgotten. they may well represent a halt to the project. Before I come to what is happening in 2021, I want to I can see you getting nervous, Madam Deputy Speaker, take us back slightly. The House will know the 2014 so I will pad this out so that you can intervene at the background, understand the Maidan revolution and appropriate time, which I think is about now. know of the non-military, non-kinetic warfare that is being besieged on Ukraine, its Government and its people 10 pm by its larger neighbour the Russian Federation. I was Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 9(3)). extremely privileged, although somewhat depressed, to Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House visit eastern Ukraine a couple of years ago. I was pleased do now adjourn.—(David T.C. Davies.) to have that visit facilitated by the former UK ambassador, Judith Gough, who I think is now in Stockholm. I saw Stewart Malcolm McDonald: I am grateful to you, for myself the misery, destruction and poverty that the Madam Deputy Speaker. As I was saying, I hope she is war has brought upon free European citizens who deserve successful for that reason and many others, but I would the right to choose their own path, and not to have one like to know what the Government’s position on this is foisted on them militarily by their neighbour. now. Has it changed? Has it evolved? Given the Salisbury 515 Ukraine 17 MAY 2021 Ukraine 516

[Stewart Malcolm McDonald] climate change, data policy, international crime—all the things that any sovereign European Government should incident that happened a few years ago alone, how on want to focus on. earth can the Government continue with a head-in-the-sand Weon these Benches support entirely the independence, attitude and approach to Nord Stream 2? We owe territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, sometimes ourselves better than that, but we certainly owe our known as the bread basket of Europe or the gates of fellow Europeans, not least our friends in Ukraine, a bit Europe. It is an old country—a proud people and a more than that too. proud land with a complicated history. It has had a long I also wish to mention Russia Today, because the war association and friendship with people here in the UK; against Ukraine has not just been one of military indeed, the Donbass region that is currently the subject hardware, foreign fighters, bullets and shells, although of war was founded by a Welshman, and the connections they have been a part of the most tragic consequence of with Scotland are long and well known. I do not doubt it; the information war being fought against Ukraine, at all that the Government are a friend of Ukraine; I not just in Ukraine, but around the western world, is just think they could be a better friend of Ukraine, and another facet to this hybrid conflict. I would like to what is the job of the opposition if not constantly to try know why the Government can correctly sanction a TV to edge the Government into a better place than they news presenter in Russia who is speaking Russian to a might otherwise be? domestic Russian audience but will not sanction the So I want to hear from the Minister about the sanctions head of RT,the global editor in chief, Margarita Simonyan, policy the Government follow, because it strikes me as who I am sure is frantically writing out a public statement somewhat patchy. I want to hear from the Minister—and about me as she hears this. Why will the Government I am sure he will tell me—about the planned visit by the not sanction the head of the outfit that is being used to Royal Navy later this year. I want to hear from the pump out dangerous disinformation in this country and Minister, although we are not part of the formal peace elsewhere, given that they recognise that this is a threat talks process, about the UK’s diplomatic engagement to our own security and the collective security we stand with France, Germany and other countries to bring that in as far as NATO, the Organisation for Security and about. And I want to hear from the Minister a positive Co-operation in Europe and much else is concerned? change in the Government’s position on Nord Stream Can we get a more robust and targeted sanctions policy 2, because this will rapidly pose a threat here; if the that goes after those who want to sow disinformation, Minister and the Government think that the cash generated discord, falsehoods and lies and ultimately help continue from that project will not be used against us, that is a the propaganda war, as RT does so brazenly? rose-tinted naiveté that in fairness I do not believe for one second the Minister would be guilty of. Let me come to numbers. The war in Ukraine has killed more than 14,000 people, most of them innocent This is a dangerous time for the Ukrainian people. civilians. It has displaced more than 1 million Ukrainian They have suffered enough. The conflict that goes on—the nationals within their own land. I am not sure whether frozen conflict, as it is sometimes known—can escalate, the Minister has had the chance to go to eastern Ukraine and that would be in nobody’s interests. I am sure all of to see the impact that the war has had there, but it is a us want to see peace and prosperity, and all of us accept somewhat sorry place. Although I know we will do all that it is not easy, simple or plain. In that spirit, I invite we can to help rebuild it, the tragedy of this conflict will the Minister to not just be a friend of Ukraine but to be go on for many years to come, and that is before we a better friend of Ukraine, as I know he wants to be. I even get on to the situation in Crimea, where a part of look forward to hearing what he has to say. Ukraine that was illegally annexed is currently illegally occupied. Human rights abuses are the day-to-day norm 10.8 pm there, and Crimean Tatars, some of the oldest peoples The Minister for Asia (Nigel Adams): I am grateful to in the continent of Europe, are targeted, harassed and the hon. Member for Glasgow South (Stewart Malcolm imprisoned for the crime of flying the Crimean flag. I McDonald) for securing this debate and pay tribute to would like to hear from the Government what more we him for all the work he does in this place on behalf and can do, now that the Ukrainian Government has launched in support of Ukraine. I understand he is a vice-chair of the “Crimean platform”, to support Crimean Tatars, the all-party group on Ukraine, and, indeed, being who are so brazenly and hellishly targeted by Russian recognised by Ukraine is no small achievement; the forces in Crimea. hon. Gentleman referred to his receiving the very In a call a few weeks ago, organised by the chair of distinguished award of the Order of Merit, and he is to the all-party group on Ukraine, the right hon. Member be commended for that. for The Wrekin (Mark Pritchard), we talked to some It is important that all Ukraine’s friends continue to Ukrainian MPs from across the political spectrum. I show unwavering support for the country. Principally, mentioned this earlier, but I will say it again: the anxiety that means standing with Ukraine in the face of Russian is very real. The threat of a full-on military incursion of aggression and provocation, as well as supporting reforms some description has not gone away—it just might not and Ukrainian institutions. I should have said at the happen in the spring. That threat is very much there. I outset that I am here because the Minister responsible know from talking to those Members of Parliament for Ukraine is travelling, so I apologise if I cannot go that they do not want their country to be constantly into all the detail that the hon. Gentleman wants, but I ignored as a country that is at war, a country that is assure him that we will do our best to get the relevant chopped up and annexed by its neighbour; they want to responses that he requires. be contributing to the big challenges that we face today. As we set out in the integrated review, Ukraine forms In my own city later this year we will host COP26. That part of our efforts in the eastern European neighbourhood is what Ukrainian citizens want to be focusing on: and beyond to deter and defend against the full spectrum 517 Ukraine 17 MAY 2021 Ukraine 518 of threats emanating from Russia. The UK Government On that point, we are closely monitoring reports of remain resolute in our commitment to Ukraine’ssovereignty the Russian decision to close parts of the Black sea and territorial integrity. We want Ukraine to be secure, surrounding illegally annexed Crimea. stable and prosperous, and we want Ukrainians to be This is the latest example of destabilising activity in the able to define their own future. region, following the build-up on the border. We have called on Russia not to hinder passage through the We are one of the few international partners that Kerch Strait. That is something we are monitoring offer Ukraine a full range of military, security, economic, closely. We will, of course, take the appropriate action political and governance support. We are at the heart of should our calls not be heeded. HMS Dragon’sdeployment the international community’s engagement on Ukraine, reflects our support for all the regional allies and partners launching the Ukraine reform conference series, deepening in that region. NATO’spartnership with the country,shaping international sanctions against Russia and leading the efforts in the We are also one of the biggest supporters of the United Nations to hold Russia to account. OSCE’s special monitoring mission to Ukraine. That plays a crucial role in providing impartial reporting to As the hon. Gentleman knows, we have also deepened the international community on the conflict in eastern our bilateral ties with Ukraine, particularly through our Ukraine. We are one of the largest contributors to the political, free trade and strategic partnership agreement, mission both financially and in terms of personnel, and which was signed in October by the Prime Minister and the Government reaffirmed our commitment to it in President Zelensky.The agreement provides the foundation our recent integrated review. We also remain supportive for a deeper strategic political and trading relationship. of Ukraine’s NATO membership aspirations, in line It is a framework for continued co-operation on human with the 2008 Bucharest summit declaration. Ukraine rights,the rule of lawand democracy.It offers opportunities achieved enhanced opportunities partner status nine to strengthen cultural ties and links between our people, months ago, the highest level of partnership with NATO building on existing UK programmes such as Chevening available. That offers a framework for engagement as as well as the John Smith Trust. Ukraine moves forward with the reforms that are a precondition of its membership pathway. I want to go into a little more detail about our work Hostile Russian activity is not the only challenge we with allies, which the hon. Gentleman mentioned, aimed are helping Ukraine face. As the hon. Gentleman referred at deterring Russian aggression and de-escalating tensions to on a number of occasions in his speech, we are a following Russia’s recent military build-up near Ukraine’s friend of Ukraine. That is reflected by our support since border and in the illegally annexed Crimea. The the beginning of the pandemic. Wehave provided legislative Government maintain regular senior-level engagement assistance to the Ukrainian Ministry of Health. We with our allies, working together through the UN in have supported Ukraine to maximise the effectiveness New York, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation of Government public communications on covid-19. in Europe in Vienna, and also directly with the Government We are also working with civil society organisations to of Ukraine. The Prime Minister and my right hon. enhance oversight of covid-19 procurement. We have Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth tailored our programme of support this year in defence, and Development Affairs have been in touch with their economic development and governance reforms to support Ukrainian counterparts to assure them of our support the recovery from covid-19. Furthermore, Ukraine stands for and solidarity with the Government and people of to benefit from the £548 million that the UK Government Ukraine, for which we have been thanked by President have committed to the COVAX vaccine initiative, which Zelensky. will contribute to the supply of at least 1.3 billion doses Russia’stroop movements last month yet again illustrate of covid vaccines this year for up to 92 low and middle- Russia’s appetite to provoke and destabilise. Although income countries. We are also funding the World Health the Russian Defence Minister announced on 22 April Organisation to train mobile teams to administer vaccines that Russian troops would return to their bases, we in Ukraine. continue to monitor the situation closely and we have Covid-19 and Russian aggression aside, there is another been clear that Russia’sthreatening behaviour is completely battle going on in Ukraine: the fight against corruption unacceptable. In the event of further escalations, we will and internal vested interests that seek to hinder vital explore counter-measures with our allies. reforms, which is why we continue to support Ukraine’s reform programme, a commitment the Prime Minister Our vocal support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and reiterated to President Zelensky during his October territorial integrity is backed by our long-standing defence visit. I am proud that under our leadership of the G7 engagement. Our military support is delivered primarily ambassadors’support group in Kiev,we have co-ordinated through Operation ORBITAL, the UK’s training mission international advocacy for fighting corruption, to Ukraine. Since launching that in 2015, we have strengthening the judiciary’sindependence and supporting trained over 20,000 members of the Ukrainian armed Ukraine in its implementation of an ambitious reform forces. In 2019, we expanded Operation ORBITAL to programme. include naval co-operation and last year, we launched Our close bilateral relationship with Ukraine also the UK co-ordinated multinational maritime training means that we can be a critical friend, including on initiative. As the hon. Gentleman will know, last summer matters of internal reform. For example, we have expressed HMS Dragon visited the Black sea, including the ports our serious concerns about corporate governance in of Odessa in Ukraine, Batumi in Georgia and Constant¸a Ukraine following the recent dismissal of the CEO in Romania. Her deployment reflected our support for from the state-owned energy company Naftogaz. We regional allies and partners and our commitment to have reiterated to the Ukraine Government that it is regional security and maintaining freedom of navigation, crucial to foreign investor confidence that corporate to which the hon. Gentleman rightly referred. governance of state-owned enterprises is transparent, 519 Ukraine 17 MAY 2021 Ukraine 520

[Nigel Adams] Crimea. The Crimean Tatars face regular harassment and risk arrest, detention, and threats to seize their free from political interference and consistent with property. The UK has contributed £700,000 to the UN international standards. Weare also using our programme human rights monitoring mission that monitors and funding to support economic and governance reforms documents human rights abuses on the peninsula, and that fight corruption, improve the business environment, provides human rights expertise to promote the right to and increase Government accountability.Last year alone, a fair trial for political prisoners in Crimea. We are also we allocated £14 million in official development assistance working with Ukraine on the development of the and other funding in support of programmes that support international Crimean platform, to ensure Russia continues prosperity, resilience and stability in Ukraine. to be held to account for the illegal annexation of I will try to answer a couple of the points that the Crimea and its actions in the region. hon. Gentleman raised. He asked whether Russia Today I think that the hon. Gentleman also mentioned the should be able to broadcast in the UK, and what the carrier strike group in his remarks. We will visit more latest update is. We all have our doubts about the than one fifth of the world’s nations with the carrier objectivity of the reporting of RT through its UK strike group when it sails, and it will also participate in television channel, which remains a tool for propaganda NATO exercises such as Exercise Steadfast Defender for the Russian state. As he will appreciate, broadcasting and provide support to NATO’s Operation Sea Guardian regulation is a matter for the independent regulator. and security operations in the Black sea. He also referred to Nord Stream 2. We have continuing and significant Stewart Malcolm McDonald: I am grateful to the concerns about Nord Stream 2 and its implications for Minister for taking my intervention. It is important to European energy security and, of course, for the interests be accurate about what I said: I was not looking for RT of Ukraine. We must work together to reduce reliance to get sanctioned, closed down, or anything like that. on any single supplier, and we call on the EU to ensure Any suggestion of closing down a TV channel makes that Nord Stream 2 fully complies with the EU gas me instinctively wince. What I did ask was whether we directive to help avoid monopolistic practices by Gazprom. can have a targeted sanction against the individual who We would also like significant volumes of gas transit is the global head of RT, Margarita Simonyan. I am in through Ukraine to be preserved, recognising the no doubt about RT’s objectivity: it does not have any importance of tariff revenue for the Ukrainian economy. at all. Ultimately, our work with the people and Government Nigel Adams: The hon. Gentleman is right, and I of Ukraine, as an honest friend and an ally, is to apologise if I strayed down a different path to the one support the democratic choices and rights of the Ukrainian that he raised. However, he will understand that it is not people. It is in support of individuals and institutions, appropriate to speculate about individuals who may or working for a Ukraine that is free from external interference may not be sanctioned. We continue to consider and that works in the interests of all its people, rather designations under the global human rights sanctions than those of a few corrupt and self-interested individuals. regulations; speculating about individuals, as I know It is important work, which I believe we should all the hon. Gentleman knows, could very well reduce the support. impact of designations should they occur. Question put and agreed to. He mentioned the Crimean Tatars, and rightly so. We are very concerned about the ongoing human rights 10.24 pm abuses experienced by ethnic and religious minorities in House adjourned. 37WS Written Statements 17 MAY 2021 Written Statements 38WS

should they receive an alert in future. There will be Written Statements localised public information campaigns ahead of each test to inform people about the look and feel of the alert Monday 17 May 2021 and what they should do when they receive it. There will also be a nationwide public information campaign ahead of the full national launch of this new capability. To ensure that as many people as possible receive CABINET OFFICE emergency alerts in future, we would encourage people to make sure that their phones have the latest manufacturer’s Emergency Alerts Service software updates downloaded. [HCWS33]

The Paymaster General (Penny Mordaunt): The Government will introduce a new emergency alerts BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL service across the UK later this summer as part of the STRATEGY Government’s continued work to improve our resilience in the event of emergencies. Emergency alerts would inform people of serious emergencies, either nationally Contingencies Fund Advance or in their local area, which could affect them by broadcasting information directly to their mobile phones. Emergency alerts would only be used to warn and The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, inform the public in emergency situations when lives are Energy and Industrial Strategy (Paul Scully): I hereby at risk. It is anticipated that this could include public give notice of the Department for Business, Energy and health emergencies, severe floods, fires, industrial incidents Industrial Strategy having drawn an advance from the and terror attacks. Contingencies Fund totalling £3,380,663,000 to enable expenditure on covid-19 support packages for business Messages will always include details of the impacted to be spent ahead of the passage of the Supply and area, situation, actions for people to take and a link to Appropriation Act. further information not transmittable in the alert message such as maps and images. This capability is already used The funding is required for the Restart Grant scheme. around the world in countries such as the United States, Parliamentary approval for additional resources of New Zealand and Canada, and has been shown to help £3,380,663,000 will be sought in a main estimate for the save lives. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Ahead of introduction, the Government are working Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at in partnership with the devolved Administrations to £3,380,663,000 has been met by repayable cash advances ensure that all relevant emergency responders across the from the Contingencies Fund. United Kingdom have access to the capability. The cash advance will be repaid upon receiving the The Government are also working with the charity Supply and Appropriation Act. and voluntary sector to ensure that the needs of the [HCWS29] elderly,vulnerable, young people and those with disabilities are fully considered as the new service is delivered. Covid-19: Use of Industrial Development Act 1982 The new service will be secure. Alerts can only be sent by authorised governmental and emergency services users. Emergency alerts cause the phone to vibrate and The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, emit a unique noise making them difficult to ignore and Energy and Industrial Strategy (Paul Scully): I am tabling to mimic or spoof. Emergency alerts are broadcast from this statement for the benefit of hon. Members to bring cell towers in the vicinity of an emergency, meaning that to their attention spend under the Industrial Development no personal data is collected and the service will never Act 1982. In addition to the obligation to report on be used for commercial purposes. As part of its spend under the Industrial Development Act annually, development, there will be a series of public trials of the the Coronavirus Act 2020 created a new quarterly reporting system where we will send out live test alerts to the requirement for spend which has been designated as phones of people in Suffolk (25 May 2021) and Reading coronavirus-related under the Coronavirus Act. This (15 June 2021). statement fulfils that purpose. Should the public trials prove successful, the Government The statement also includes a report of the movement will send out a national welcome message to the whole in contingent liability during the quarter. Hon. Members of the UK later this year. will wish to note that measures such as local authority During the pandemic, the Government communicated grants, the coronavirus job retention scheme and self- direct to the public via text message when we asked employment income support scheme, and tax measures people to stay at home to protect the NHS and save such as the suspension of business rates are not provided lives. This new alert builds on that capability, but by under the Industrial Development Act 1982 and hence broadcasting from cell towers, the new emergency alerts are not included below. messages would be quicker and delivered instantaneously This report covers the fourth quarter of 2020, from to all recipients. 1 October to 31 December 2020, in accordance with Public testing will allow us to check the effectiveness the Coronavirus Act. It also covers, for the first time, of the system and ensure that members of the public are coronavirus-related spending of the Department for familiar with the new system and know what to do Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 39WS Written Statements 17 MAY 2021 Written Statements 40WS

The written ministerial statement covering the third competition conducted in accordance with the Governance quarter of 2020 was published on 9 March 2021. Code on Public Appointments, I have decided to Spend under the Coronavirus Act2020 appoint Gary Pugh OBE. He is a forensic scientist who has previously held a number of senior leadership posts Under the Coronavirus Act 2020, there is a requirement in forensic science in the UK, including the Director of to lay before Parliament details of the amount of assistance Forensic Services in the Metropolitan Police Service designated as coronavirus-related provided in each relevant and leader of national governance boards and operations. quarter. In the period from 1 October to 31 December His three-year term of appointment commenced on 2020, the following expenditures were incurred: 16 May. Actual expenditure of assistance provided by £957,000,978 This appointment comes at an opportune moment, Her Majesty’s Government from 1 October to with the Forensic Science Regulator Act receiving Royal 31 December 2020, including expenditure by Assent last month. This means that for the first time the DEFRA in earlier quarters not previously notified. Regulator will have statutory powers to help drive up All expenditure of assistance provided by Her £1,651,946,560 quality standards in forensic science. Majesty’s Government from 25 March 2020. I should like to record the Government’s appreciation of the former Regulator, Dr Gillian Tully CBE, for her contribution towards the regulation of quality in Forensic Expenditure by Department Science in England and Wales. Actual expenditure of assistance from 1 October to [HCWS31] 31 December 2020 provided by:

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial £943,967,558 Strategy HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL Department for Environment, Food & Rural £13,033,420 Affairs, including expenditure in earlier quarters GOVERNMENT not previously notified

Rough Sleeping Initiative Update First inclusion of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spend under the Coronavirus Act2020 Under the Coronavirus Act 2020, there is a requirement The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and to lay before Parliament details of the amount of assistance Local Government (Robert Jenrick): On Saturday, the designated as coronavirus-related provided in each relevant Government announced the allocation of an additional quarter. This requirement is fulfilled by the table below. £203 million to 210 areas—representing 281 local Expenditure by the Department for Environment, Food authorities—across England to tackle rough sleeping and Rural Affairs is being included for the first time and provide support for people living on the streets. No within this fourth quarter report. one should have to sleep rough and that is why the Actual expenditure of assistance provided by the Government have committed to ending rough sleeping. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs The Rough Sleeping Initiative is a key part of that in 2020, by quarter: mission. The allocations can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/ First quarter 2020 (1 January-31 March) NIL government/publications/rough-sleeping-initiative- Second quarter 2020 (1 April-30 June) £39,179,062 2021-to-2022-funding-allocations. Third quarter 2020 (1 July-30 September) £2,532,544 Rough Sleeping Fourth quarter 2020 (1 October-31 December) £1,321,814 Total reported for the first time in this fourth £13,033,420 During the last 12 months we took unprecedented quarter report steps to protect rough sleepers from the pandemic and in the longer term. By the end of January, we had supported over 37,000 people since the pandemic began, Contingent liability under the Coronavirus Act2020 with over 11,000 people currently being supported in emergency accommodation and over 26,000 already Contingent liability of assistance provided by £11,746,523,334 the Secretary of State from 1 October to 31 moved on into settled and supported accommodation. December 2020 Figures published in February show that the number of All contingent liability of assistance provided £61,188,652,244 people sleeping on our streets on a single night in by the Secretary of State from 25 March 2020 autumn fell by 37% compared to the previous year. [HCWS30] This is a significant achievement, but our work continues, and we are proud to confirm allocations for the fourth year of this flagship programme. Rough Sleeping Initiative 2021-22 HOME DEPARTMENT The Government are announcing a total of £203 million of funding through the Rough Sleeping Initiative 2021-22. Forensic Science Regulator: Appointment I am pleased to tell colleagues that this is an 81% increase from the £112 million provided last year. The Rough Sleeping Initiative, initially launched in The Minister for Crime and Policing (Kit Malthouse): March 2018, seeks to reduce the levels of rough sleeping I am today announcing arrangements for the appointment by working with local authorities to provide specialist of the Forensic Science Regulator. Following an open services, tailored to local circumstances, to help vulnerable 41WS Written Statements 17 MAY 2021 Written Statements 42WS people off the streets. To date the programme has been The conference will bring together countries,international a success, with a 2018 impact evaluation finding that civil society and businesses to improve the rights and there was a 32% reduction in rough sleeping in areas freedoms of LGBT people around the world. We will which received the Rough Sleeping Initiative funding in address three key challenges: supporting decriminalisation 2018-19, compared to the number it would have been and legislative reform to advance equality and legal had the Rough Sleeping Initiative not been in place. protections for LGBT people globally, tackling violence The Rough Sleeping Initiative 2021-22 will build on and discrimination, and improving access to public past successes, providing ongoing support to those who services. need it and a route into settled accommodation. This year, it will also provide additional resource to continue The event brings together two ongoing international supporting work to protect people sleeping rough from commitments the UK holds: co-chair of the Equal the covid-19 pandemic. Rights Coalition alongside Argentina from 2019-2022, and hosting the Council of Europe’s European LGBTI This year’s Rough Sleeping Initiative has expanded to focal points network annual forum alongside Cyprus. cover 281 local authorities in England, an increase from the 270 authorities funded in 2020-21. It will provide We will be organising a series of virtual events that funding for 14,500 bed spaces and 2,700 full time equivalent bring together our key international partners, Starting staff to deliver interventions to support those on the with an event on 18 May 2021 to mark this year’s street, as well as helping local authorities and other international day against homophobia, biphobia and providers transition to longer term preventative support. transphobia (IDAHOT). The 2021 IDAHOT+ forum Saturday’s funding announcement is just one part of will be an important moment to discuss a range of the £750 million that this Government will be spending important issues including LGBT-inclusive healthcare this financial year on homelessness and rough sleeping, and business advocacy. It will also be the beginning of a and demonstrates our continued commitment to end year-long partnership with Cyprus, our friend in Europe rough sleeping. and the Commonwealth. [HCWS34] Additionally,as co-chairs of the Equal Rights Coalition, the UK and Argentina will launch the first strategy of WOMEN AND EQUALITIES the Equal Rights Coalition, and its five-year implementation plan, at a virtual meeting in July this year. This Safe To Be Me: A Global Equality Conference on comprehensive strategy will increase international action LGBT Rights to advance freedom and defend the rights of LGBT people. We want to ensure that everyone can live their The Secretary of State for International Trade (Elizabeth lives free from the discrimination and violence that Truss): The UK is a global leader for equality at home persists today. and abroad, driven by a fierce belief that everyone To drive this work the Prime Minister has appointed deserves the opportunity to succeed at whatever they Lord Herbert of South Downs as his special envoy on wish to do and to love whoever they want to love. We LGBT rights. In this role, Lord Herbert will champion proudly support, defend and champion the rights of LGBT rights in the UK and abroad. LGBT people all around the world. Now, more than ever, is an important time for us to The Government are committed to ensuring that come together and build back a better world, one where LGBT people can be safe and free to live their lives as all LGBT people feel safe. they wish, here at home and supporting them around That is why the UK Government will deliver their the world. These events will be the next important step first ever global LGBT rights conference. “Safe To Be to ensuring we build a world where it is truly “Safe to Me: A Global Equality Conference” will take place be me”. from 27 to 29 June 2022, marking the 50th anniversary [HCWS32] of the first London Pride.

5P Petitions 17 MAY 2021 Petitions 6P

The Government asked the JCVI for advice on covid-19 Petition vaccine prioritisation and the JCVI advice was that the first priorities for any covid-19 vaccination programme Monday 17 May 2021 should be the prevention of covid-19 mortality and the protection of health and social care staff and systems. Based upon this, the JVCI advised that the only OBSERVATIONS workforce prioritisation should be given to frontline health and social care workers who are at high risk of acquiring infection, and at risk of transmitting that infection to multiple patients particularly vulnerable to BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL covid-19 and other staff in a healthcare environment. STRATEGY Following infection, almost all children will have Vaccination of School Staff asymptomatic infection or mild disease and therefore are not considered to be particularly vulnerable to The petition of residents of the constituency of Putney, severeoutcomesof covid-19.Preliminaryevidencesuggested Declares that those working in schools are extremely that not only do children have a lower susceptibility to vulnerable to the spread of coronavirus; further that a SARS-CoV-2 infection, but they are also unlikely to be major factor in the need to close schools has been the key drivers of transmission at a population level. failure to put in place measures to reduce the risks In line with the JCVI’s advice, school staff will remain which school staff are subjected to; further that it is to be prioritised for vaccination according to their age crucial that teachers are prioritised for vaccines to ensure and clinical risk along with the rest of the population. that schools can stay open rather than close because of Following the JCVI advice on prioritisation has already staff shortages, and so that teachers and school staff are helped save thousands of lives and will help to save safer doing their jobs. thousands more. We want to protect those most at risk and reduce pressure on the NHS. Age and underlying The petitioners therefore request that the House of health conditions are currently deemed the biggest factors Commons urges the Government to urgently prioritise determining mortality from covid-19. vaccinating teachers and school staff. So far, everybody in cohorts 1 to 9—those aged 50 And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Fleur and over, the clinically extremely vulnerable, persons Anderson, Official Report, 25 March 2021; Vol. 691, with underlying health conditions and health and social c. 1172.] care workers— have been offered a vaccine, meeting the [P002655] Government’s 15 April target ahead of time. This means Observations from the Minister for Covid Vaccine that all school staff most at risk of serious outcomes Deployment (Nadhim Zahawi): from covid-19, will have now been invited for a first dose of a covid-19 vaccine. The Government understand the importance of the work carried out by school staff in this difficult time to The JCVI advises that the offer of vaccination during support children and young people through their education. phase two is age-based starting with the oldest adults first and proceeding in the following order: The Government and the NHS are working hard to ensure everyone who has been prioritised in phase one all those aged 40 to 49 years and two of the roll-out will have access to a vaccine by all those aged 30 to 39 years the end of July. Over 34 million people across the UK all those aged 18 to 29 years have now received their first dose of a covid-19 vaccine Full JVCI advice on phase two of vaccination can be and over 15 million people have received their second found at the following link: JCVI final statement on dose. There are now over 2700 sites across the UK phase two of the covid-19 vaccination programme: already offering vaccines to those at risk, by age and 13 April 2021 - GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk clinical priority. The network will continue to expand All those over 40 can now book their vaccination and evolve as we progress the deployment in the months through the NHS booking service. The Government ahead. aim to offer everyone aged 18 and over their first dose The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation by 31 July. (JCVI) is the independent body made up of scientific We thank school staff for all the incredible work they and clinical experts who advise Government on which have been undertaking throughout the pandemic, and vaccines the United Kingdom should use and provide we are working hard to ensure everyone who is eligible advice on prioritisation at a population level. to receive a vaccine will have access as soon as possible.

3MC Ministerial Corrections17 MAY 2021 Ministerial Corrections 4MC Ministerial Correction [Official Report, 13 May 2021, Vol. 695, c. 386.] Letter of correction from the Minister for Regional Monday 17 May 2021 Growth and Local Government, the hon. Member for Thornbury and Yate (Luke Hall) HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL An error has been identified in my response to my GOVERNMENT hon. Friend the Member for Rother Valley (Alexander Stafford). Levelling-up Fund: Rother Valley The following is an extract from the Adjournment The correct response should have been: debate on 13 May 2021. Luke Hall: In total, approximately £25 billion has Luke Hall: In total, approximately £25 billion has been transferred from Government to businesses through been transferred from Government to businesses through covid support grants during the pandemic. Across South covid support grants during the pandemic. Across South Yorkshire, that amounts to more than £487 million in Yorkshire, that amounts to more than £487 million in support for businesses through local authorities, and support for businesses through local authorities, and more than £177 million for businesses in Rotherham. more than £77 million for businesses in Rotherham.

ORAL ANSWERS

Monday 17 May 2021

Col. No. Col. No. WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 390 WORK AND PENSIONS—continued Covid-19: Support for People on Legacy Benefits .. 403 Prison Leavers: Support into Employment...... 394 Covid-19: Support with Essential Living Costs ...... 391 Special Rules for Terminal Illness ...... 399 Employment: Young People...... 400 Support for Families Living in Poverty ...... 403 In-work Poverty ...... 395 Support for Tenants with Rent Arrears...... 390 Kickstart: Thames Valley...... 399 Topical Questions ...... 404 Kickstart: Youth Unemployment...... 397 Universal Credit Uplift ...... 392 PIP Application Process...... 390 WRITTEN STATEMENTS

Monday 17 May 2021

Col. No. Col. No. BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL HOME DEPARTMENT ...... 39WS STRATEGY ...... 38WS Forensic Science Regulator: Appointment ...... 39WS Contingencies Fund Advance ...... 38WS Covid-19: Use of Industrial Development Act HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL 1982 ...... 38WS GOVERNMENT...... 40WS Rough Sleeping Initiative Update...... 40WS WOMEN AND EQUALITIES...... 41WS CABINET OFFICE...... 37WS Safe To Be Me: A Global Equality Conference on Emergency Alerts Service...... 37WS LGBT Rights...... 41WS PETITION

Monday 17 May 2021

Col. No. BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY ...... 5P Vaccination of school staff...... 5P MINISTERIAL CORRECTION

Monday 17 May 2021

Col. No. HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT...... 3MC Levelling-up Fund: Rother Valley...... 3MC 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 Monday 24 May 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 695 Monday No. 4 17 May 2021

CONTENTS

Monday 17 May 2021

Oral Answers to Questions [Col. 390] [see index inside back page] Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Antisemitic Attacks [Col. 411] Answer to urgent question—(Robert Jenrick)

Covid-19 Update [Col. 424] Statement—(Matt Hancock)

Debate on the Address (Fourth Day) [Col. 451] Debate adjourned

Ukraine [Col. 513] Debate on motion for Adjournment

Written Statements [Col. 37WS]

Petition [Col. 5P] Observations

Ministerial Correction [Col. 3MC]

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