Contributions
215 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPolice Surveillance of JournalistsMy right hon. Friend is a long-standing champion of civil liberties and press freedom; in fact, there is probably no greater one in this House, and I am grateful to him for the UQ…17 Jul 2019HANSARDPolice Surveillance of JournalistsI am sure the hon. Gentleman will want to make it clear on behalf of the Opposition that they entirely support the police having the ability to get on with their work and identify…17 Jul 2019HANSARDPolice Surveillance of JournalistsI accept all that, coming from the authority of a highly distinguished former Secretary of State. I am entirely sincere, as are my colleagues, in taking this opportunity to…17 Jul 2019HANSARDPolice Surveillance of JournalistsThe hon. and learned Lady is right to echo what my right hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice and Howden said earlier, and it is something to be proud of that a British Foreign…17 Jul 2019HANSARDPolice Surveillance of JournalistsI understand the point my hon. Friend is making, and I understand that the comments from the Met have generated ripples, but this was a serious leak and it is entirely appropriate…17 Jul 2019HANSARDPolice Surveillance of JournalistsThere is a great deal of guidance around this subject, but the hon. Gentleman is right and I thank him for his work on that scrutiny. I am happy to repeat the point that, in…17 Jul 2019HANSARDPolice Surveillance of JournalistsI am all for more transparency, and I hope we are all on the side of upholding the law. What I have been trying to set out, in what I hope is a reassuring way, is that there are…17 Jul 2019HANSARDPolice Surveillance of JournalistsI thank my hon. Friend and parliamentary neighbour for his question. I have absolutely no evidence to suggest that what he fears is the case. I wholly endorse the very focused…17 Jul 2019HANSARDPolice Surveillance of JournalistsIf the hon. Lady is talking specifically about the examination of data under a bulk acquisition warrant, I would again point to the whole set of codes, guidance, processes and…17 Jul 2019HANSARDPolice Surveillance of JournalistsJournalists provide an incredibly important service in our democracy, and I have been entirely sincere in everything that I have said. I am sure that the hon. Lady is not…17 Jul 2019HANSARDPolice Surveillance of JournalistsIt is wrong for the House, and certainly for Ministers, to speculate on the outcome of this particular investigation. We need to let the police get on with their work, but they…17 Jul 2019HANSARDPolice Surveillance of JournalistsIt cannot be said often enough that the Government are committed to protecting the free press and freedom of expression in this country. The Government agree—indeed, they…17 Jul 2019HANSARDPolice Surveillance of JournalistsI hope the hon. Gentleman’s knees are all right. I honestly do not think that there has been a change in policy, and I have set out the processes around the Investigatory Powers…17 Jul 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe Government continue to give the fire service the resources it needs against a background of falling fire numbers. We continue to monitor that in the run-in to the…15 Jul 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsThat is ultimately a decision for the Mayor in his capacity as police and crime commissioner, working with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner. Our role is to ensure that the Met…15 Jul 2019HANSARDCommunity and Neighbourhood PolicingThey do not need a degree to go into policing; that is what the apprentice route is for. I know plenty of people with degrees who would make very poor police officers. What we are…15 Jul 2019HANSARDCommunity and Neighbourhood PolicingI am a bit puzzled by what the hon. Lady says, because I have spoken to her police and crime commissioner, the excellent Matthew Ellis, and he is extremely animated about how he…15 Jul 2019HANSARDCommunity and Neighbourhood PolicingAs funding for the police increases, we have made it clear that we want to see more consistent, proactive neighbourhood policing, which is the cornerstone of the British policing…15 Jul 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe have introduced independent inspections of fire and rescue services, which in fact show that most people across the country get an excellent service in the response to…15 Jul 2019HANSARDCommunity and Neighbourhood PolicingThe Government have made very clear the priority that we attach to police funding. We are increasing funding, through council tax and other measures, by up to £1 billion this…15 Jul 2019