🚨 Oral Answers to Questions

• Syrian Asylum Claims:
  • The Home Office paused decisions on Syrian asylum claims due to the fall of the Assad regime and the need for updated country information.
  • The pause is under constant review, and decisions will resume once there is a clear basis for processing claims.
  • There is heightened anxiety among Syrian asylum seekers in Scotland, and concerns about increasing the backlog of asylum cases.
• Asylum Housing:
  • There are 216 hotels across the UK used to house asylum seekers, with efforts to reduce this number.
• Channel Crossings and Rwanda Deterrent:
  • The government faced criticism over the increase in channel crossings and the failure of the Rwanda deterrent plan.
  • The Rwanda scheme was deemed ineffective and costly, with no significant reduction in boat crossings.
• Violence Against Women and Girls:
  • The government aims to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.
  • New measures include domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms, domestic abuse protection orders, and a national policing centre.
  • Concerns were raised about cross-allegations by abusers and the need for better recognition and protection for victims.
• Defending Democracy Taskforce:
  • The taskforce is working to strengthen and protect UK democracy, including tackling harassment and intimidation of elected representatives.
  • Efforts are being made to protect against foreign interference, particularly from Russian disinformation.
• Shoplifting:
  • The government is taking steps to tackle shoplifting, including ending immunity for thefts under £200, introducing an offence of assaulting a shop worker, and increasing neighbourhood policing.
  • Local initiatives like Operation Shopkeeper in Bournemouth are being highlighted as successful models.
• Violence Against Shop Workers:
  • A new offence of assaulting a retail worker is being introduced to protect shop workers and deter violence.
  • Concerns were raised about the impact of violence on shop workers, particularly in rural areas.
• Off-Road Bikes:
  • The government is giving police stronger powers to seize off-road bikes used antisocially.
  • There are calls for swift action to address the dangerous and disruptive use of these vehicles.
• Mobile Phone Theft:
  • The government is tackling mobile phone theft through a summit with tech companies and police, and new powers for police to enter premises where stolen phones are believed to be.
  • There is a focus on addressing the organized criminality behind these thefts.
• Rural Crime:
  • Measures are being taken to tackle rural crime, including funding for national rural and wildlife crime units and new legislation to prevent equipment theft.
  • Concerns were raised about the use of catapults to harm wildlife and the need for legislative review.
• Live Facial Recognition:
  • The government is investing in live facial recognition technology for police use, with plans to develop a national capability.
  • There is a call for a clear legislative framework to govern its use.
• Asylum Policy and Refugee Convention:
  • Changes to the good character policy for citizenship applications were discussed, with assurances that they comply with the 1951 refugee convention.
  • Concerns were raised about the impact of these changes on asylum seekers and refugees.
• People Smuggling:
  • An international summit was hosted to address organized immigration crime and border security.
  • The government is working to strengthen international cooperation to tackle smuggling gangs and increase returns of those with no right to be in the UK.
• Police Funding in Gloucestershire:
  • Gloucestershire police will receive increased funding, including support for recruiting additional neighbourhood officers.
  • Concerns were raised about the impact of past funding cuts and the need for a better funding formula.
• Police Mental Health Support:
  • There is a focus on improving mental health support for police officers to reduce long-term sick leave and enhance community policing.
• Windrush Compensation Scheme:
  • There are ongoing issues with the Windrush compensation scheme, with calls for better legal support for victims.
• Police Anti-Racism Commitment:
  • Concerns were raised about the police’s anti-racism commitment and its implications for equal treatment under the law.
• Street Lighting and Safety:
  • Concerns were raised about the impact of dimming street lights on public safety, particularly for women and shift workers.
• Ukrainian Refugees:
  • There is a call for more certainty regarding visa status for Ukrainian refugees in the UK to reduce stress and improve their integration.
• Support for Terrorism Victims:
  • Plans are in place to establish a dedicated support hub for victims and survivors of terrorist attacks and to consult on a national day to honor them.
• Retail Crime Support for Small Businesses:
  • The government is providing funding to support police efforts in tackling retail crime, including measures to help small retailers enhance security.
• Police Allowances:
  • There are calls for equalizing police allowances across different regions, such as in Cambridgeshire.
• Youth Crime and Incel Culture:
  • The government is implementing measures to address the root causes of youth crime, including online safety and school-based prevention programs.
• Leicester Riots Report:
  • There is a call for the publication of a report on the Leicester riots to ensure accurate attribution of blame.
• European Sting Operations:
  • Successful European sting operations against people-smuggling gangs highlight the importance of international cooperation.
• Police Funding in the South-West:
  • There is a need for increased funding for frontline policing in the south-west, particularly after recent cuts.
• Town Centre Crime:
  • Efforts are being made to increase policing in town centres to address rising retail crime and ensure public safety.
• Migration Policy:
  • The government is working on a plan to reduce net migration, which reached record highs under the previous administration.
• Quaker Meeting House Raid:
  • Concerns were raised about a police raid on a Quaker meeting house and its implications for freedom of assembly and expression.
• Street Pastors:
  • Recognition was given to the work of street pastors in reducing crime and enhancing safety on nights out.
• Foreign National Offenders:
  • The government is increasing the return and removal of foreign national offenders, addressing a previous decline in deportations.

The parliamentary session shows moderate levels of disagreement, characterized mainly by policy critiques and some direct challenges between members. Overall, the disagreements are not intense or frequent enough to warrant a higher rating, but they are significant enough to suggest more than just minor tensions. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the disagreements observed in the transcript:

1. Asylum Policy Disputes:
   • Patricia Ferguson challenges Dame Angela Eagle on the timeline for resuming decisions on Syrian asylum claims, expressing concerns about the backlog and heightened anxiety among asylum seekers. This indicates a disagreement over the management and urgency of asylum processing.
   • Euan Stainbank also questions the ongoing pause in processing Syrian asylum claims, suggesting a disagreement with the government’s approach to handling these cases.
2. Channel Crossings and the Rwanda Deterrent:
   • Chris Philp challenges Dame Angela Eagle on the effectiveness of the government’s plan to address channel crossings, suggesting that the cancellation of the Rwanda deterrent was a mistake. This implies a significant policy disagreement, particularly on the approach to illegal migration and the use of deterrents.
   • Dame Angela Eagle’s response, criticizing the Conservative’s Rwanda scheme and highlighting its cost and ineffectiveness, shows a direct rebuttal and disagreement with the opposition’s stance.
3. Violence against Women and Girls:
   • Katie Lam criticizes the government’s handling of grooming gang cases and the lack of convictions for related cover-ups. Yvette Cooper’s response acknowledges the issue but emphasizes the government’s efforts to introduce new policies, showing a disagreement on the effectiveness and approach to tackling these crimes.
4. Shoplifting and Retail Crime:
   • Sir Oliver Dowden and Matt Vickers criticize the police’s focus, arguing that they should prioritize real crimes like shoplifting over what they see as less pressing issues. This reflects a disagreement on law enforcement priorities.
   • Dame Diana Johnson defends the government’s policies and emphasizes their focus on neighborhood policing and tackling retail crime, showing a disagreement with the opposition’s critique.
5. Live Facial Recognition and Policing:
   • Sir John Whittingdale questions the deployment of facial recognition technology and calls for clearer legislative frameworks, indicating a disagreement on the use and governance of such technology in policing.
   • Dame Diana Johnson acknowledges the need for further consideration but defends the use of such technology as a tool in policing, showing a disagreement on the urgency and specifics of legislative action.
6. Asylum Policy and the Refugee Convention:
   • Pete Wishart challenges the government’s changes to asylum policy, claiming they breach the 1951 refugee convention. This directly disputes the government’s legal stance on asylum and citizenship.
   • Seema Malhotra’s response asserts that the policies are compliant with international obligations, showing a disagreement on the legal interpretation of these policies.
7. People Smuggling and Border Security:
   • Lee Anderson criticizes the government’s approach to illegal entrants, suggesting a policy of detention and deportation. Dame Angela Eagle defends the government’s approach to processing asylum claims and increasing returns, showing a disagreement on how to handle such cases.
8. Police Funding and Resources:
   • Cameron Thomas criticizes the funding cuts to Gloucestershire police and the impact on staffing, highlighting a disagreement with the government’s budget allocations for law enforcement.
   • Dame Diana Johnson’s willingness to meet and discuss the issue shows an attempt to address these concerns but does not entirely resolve the underlying disagreement on funding.
9. Anti-Racism Commitment in Policing:
   • Chris Philp questions the Home Secretary on the police’s anti-racism commitment, particularly the statement that it does not mean treating everyone ‘the same’. Yvette Cooper’s response reaffirms the principle of impartiality in policing, indicating a disagreement on interpreting these commitments.
10. Visa Policies and Fraud:
    • Sarah Bool questions the government’s transparency on migration levels and criticizes the rejection of a Conservative proposal for a visa cap. Seema Malhotra’s response defends the government’s plan to reduce migration, indicating a disagreement on policy transparency and effectiveness.

These instances of disagreement reflect a session where differing opinions on policy and action are evident, but the tone remains mostly measured. The disagreements are significant but do not escalate into more severe confrontations, hence a rating of 2 is appropriate.