James Brokenshire: The UK recently received international recognition for the positive structures and systems in place to address corruption. This was evidenced in the UK’s 2019 United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) Peer Review which singled out as successes and good practice the UK’s “structures and governance for the coordination of anticorruption activity, including a national...
James Brokenshire: Cyber security, including cyber crime, is a top priority threat to national security. This is why the National Cyber Security Strategy 2016-2021 is supported by £1.9billion of transformational investment. Through the National Cyber Security Programme, we have invested over £250 million since 2010 to bolster the law enforcement response to the cyber crime threat. We have boosted the...
James Brokenshire: The safety and security of our citizens remains our priority. We are working closely with operational partners to ensure we are ready for a range of scenarios at the end of the transition period. We will continue to co-operate with European and international partners to tackle shared security threats.
James Brokenshire: National security remains our absolute priority. This country is a safe country and will remain so after the end of the transition period. The hon. Lady asks what alternative arrangements are in place. Obviously, we continue the negotiations and await their outcome, but we are prepared for a range of scenarios. In the event that it is not possible to reach an agreement, the UK has well...
James Brokenshire: I have already said that this country will remain one of the safest places in the world. It is worth underlining to the hon. Gentleman that the UK will continue to be a global leader on national security; we are now and we will remain so in the future. I hope that, equally, he will note the level of preparedness and the hard work by our police and all our other agencies to ensure that we are...
James Brokenshire: The Chair of the Home Affairs Committee highlights the issue of the ability to share data with our international partners. Obviously, our Interpol relationship predates our SIS II access, and that will provide us with the means to communicate with all our international partners quickly and securely. All incoming Interpol circulations—notices and diffusions, as they are called—are uploaded...
James Brokenshire: The Home Office collects data from Her Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service and the Scottish Prisons Service on the number of terrorist prisoners released in Great Britain. These data are published quarterly in ‘Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 statistics’, which are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/operation-of-polic...
James Brokenshire: The Home Office collects data from the National Counter Terrorism Policing Operations Centre on how many people have been arrested and charged with terrorism-related offences in Great Britain. These data are published quarterly in ‘Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 statistics’, which are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/operation-of-polic...
James Brokenshire: Tackling serious and organised crime is a critical part of the Government’s wider crime reduction agenda; we are committed to disrupting and dismantling the highest harm criminal enterprises. We are considering the findings of the SOC Review alongside the outcome of the recent Spending Review and the constantly evolving threats we face. We will announce details, and key findings from the...
James Brokenshire: The Government was disappointed with the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission’s (the Commission) decision to allow the appeal in the matter of the ongoing proscription of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The LTTE remains proscribed at this time and we await a further decision from the Commission on the action that the Government must take in response to the judgment. The...
James Brokenshire: The Government recognises the serious risks presented by online scams and fraud and are committed to tackling fraudulent activity online. Fraudsters will use any hook, including Covid-19, to commit these terrible crimes and we must therefore remain vigilant to any risks and vulnerabilities. We are working collaboratively across government to reaffirm messages to the public setting out how...
James Brokenshire: The safety and security of our citizens is the Government’s top priority. We’ve been negotiating an agreement with the EU to equip operational partners on both sides with capabilities to protect citizens and bring criminals to justice. As set out in the UK’s published Approach to Negotiations, we have maintained an agreement in this area should include arrangements that support data...
James Brokenshire: The Government is making significant progress in improving fire safety. The Fire Safety Bill, which clarifies that external walls and flat entrance doors are within scope of the Fire Safety Order, has progressed through the majority of its stages in Parliament. The Government has also published a fire safety consultation. We will soon publish a formal response and look to introduce...
James Brokenshire: I congratulate the hon. Member for Upper Bann (Carla Lockhart) on securing the debate, and on the very powerful and poignant speech she delivered to the House this evening. Her comments on the brutal murder of William Heenan will have struck a chord with all who have heard the debate tonight. The loss and impact on his son Sammy Heenan, and on the rest of the family, is lifelong. I am sure...
James Brokenshire: I appreciate and respect the point that the hon. Gentleman makes. He will understand that I am not familiar with all the circumstances or indeed whether it would be appropriate for me as a Minister to try to determine what a particular community would do, but obviously he makes an important point on how we reflect on the issue of building strong communities and looking beyond division and...
James Brokenshire: I can see the hon. Lady wishes to intervene, and I will give way to her.
James Brokenshire: A number of the issues of which the hon. Lady speaks are, in essence, matters for the House and equally for some of the external bodies that maintain standards in relation to the House. I do not have direct oversight or responsibility for those particular organisations. I think I am correct in saying that the Leader of the House has that relationship on issues of policy. I will certainly draw...
James Brokenshire: The pay awards announced on 21 July 2020 related to workforces covered by Pay Review Bodies (PRBs) which are: the armed forces, teachers, police officers, the National Crime Agency, prison officers, doctors, dentists, the Judiciary, senior civil servants and senior military personnel. Pay awards for firefighters are agreed independently outside this process by the National Joint Council (NJC)...
James Brokenshire: We are aware that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of Turkey has offices in the UK and certain EU member states. All foreign political parties with representation in the UK must act in accordance with UK law in relation to their activities in the UK.
James Brokenshire: The Home Office has not undertaken an assessment on co-operation between the AK Parti’s centre for British Turkish Understanding and Islamist groups.