Contributions
2,978 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Antisocial Behaviour and Off-road BikesThe hon. Lady said that police numbers in West Yorkshire had fallen. I gently say this: in March 2010, West Yorkshire had 5,856 police officers; in March this year, there were…11 Jul 2023HANSARDPolice StationsLet me start by congratulating my right hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Theresa Villiers) on securing this important debate and for speaking with such passion and…10 Jul 2023HANSARD Crime and Antisocial Behaviour: West LondonIt is not me that is telling the hon. Gentleman that crime has reduced; it is the crime survey of England and Wales, endorsed by the Office for National Statistics. What he is…03 Jul 2023HANSARD Crime and Antisocial Behaviour: West LondonMy predecessor’s private Member’s Bill, now the Scrap Metal Dealers Act, has dramatically reduced the theft of scrap metal from things like church roofs, which is what inspired…03 Jul 2023HANSARD Crime and Antisocial Behaviour: West LondonI will give way to the hon. Gentleman in a moment. London could have had another 1,000 officers on top of that, funded by the Government, but unfortunately Sadiq Khan was not able…03 Jul 2023HANSARD Crime and Antisocial Behaviour: West LondonI congratulate the hon. Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Ruth Cadbury) on securing the debate. It is particularly well timed, given that this week is Anti-Social Behaviour…03 Jul 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank my hon. Friend for his excellent question. The answer is no, I cannot think of anything other than the campaigning by Councillor Steve Tuckwell and others, which forced…03 Jul 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank the hon. Gentleman for our meeting with the families a few weeks ago. As I said to him on the phone last week, whenever he and the families are ready to have further…03 Jul 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsI cannot set out a precise timeframe—it is being actively worked on—but I point out that Festus, the police and crime commissioner for Bedfordshire, is doing a fantastic job for…03 Jul 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsI and many other Londoners were concerned when, I think in 2017, Sadiq Khan announced plans to close 37 police stations. Thanks to the resolute campaigning of local councillor…03 Jul 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsAs I mentioned in earlier answers, across England and Wales we now have record police numbers of 149,572. The previous peak was 146,030 in 2010, so we have 3,500 more officers…03 Jul 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsMany cannabis base compounds were moved wholesale to schedule 2 a few years ago, enabling them to be prescribed. The question that the hon. Gentleman asked about NHS prescription…03 Jul 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsAs I said in response to an earlier question, the Government intend to consult in due course on a new police funding formula, and part of that consultation will involve looking at…03 Jul 2023HANSARDStreet Crime by Young PeopleI must say, in the gentlest terms, that my constituency neighbour has a bit of cheek to talk about reducing crime, given that according to the crime survey, crime levels under the…03 Jul 2023HANSARDStreet Crime by Young PeopleI agree with the approach that the hon. Lady sets out, and we have already taken action. She asks about long-term plans. She will be aware that the Youth Endowment Fund of £210…03 Jul 2023HANSARDPolice Funding FormulaThe shadow Minister will know that in the police funding settlement for this year, 2023-24, there is around about £500 million extra—in fact, it is slightly over £500 million—for…03 Jul 2023HANSARDPolice Funding FormulaMy hon. Friend makes a good point. I should take this opportunity to pay tribute to the Bedfordshire police and crime commissioner, Festus Akinbusoye, who has done a fantastic job…03 Jul 2023HANSARDPolice Funding FormulaThe Government have said they will be reviewing the police funding formula, and I hope to have news for the House in the relatively near future about initiating the consultation…03 Jul 2023HANSARDIndustrial Hemp LicensingIt is, of course, important to make sure that UK industry can compete globally, and a light-touch regulatory framework is important in that. We should be aware that some parts of…03 Jul 2023HANSARDIndustrial Hemp LicensingThe hon. Gentleman will recall that the two of us met just a few weeks ago, on 17 May, together with industry representatives, to discuss hemp licensing. I thank him for taking…03 Jul 2023