To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have the necessary security clearance to access the (i) Merlin database and (ii) documentation stored on the Merlin database pertaining to the nuclear test programme and its veterans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have the necessary security clearance to access the (i) Merlin database and (ii) documentation stored on the Merlin database pertaining to the nuclear test programme and its veterans.

I would like to update the House on the Government’s progress in implementing commitments made in response to the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, following on from the publication of the Government’s response to the Inquiry’s final report in May last year.

The final report concluded...

I would like to update the House on the Government’s progress in implementing commitments made in response to the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, following on from the publication of the Government’s response to the Inquiry’s final report in May last year.

The final report concluded...

My rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department (James Cleverly) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement:

I would like to update the House on the Government’s progress in implementing commitments made in response to the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, following...

My rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department (James Cleverly) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement:

I would like to update the House on the Government’s progress in implementing commitments made in response to the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, following...

College of Policing Codes of Practice

The Government is today laying two important and significant Codes of Practice concerning the vetting of police officers and police information and records management. Both Codes of Practice have been drafted by the College of Policing following extensive public and stakeholder consultation. In accordance...

College of Policing Codes of Practice

The Government is today laying two important and significant Codes of Practice concerning the vetting of police officers and police information and records management. Both Codes of Practice have been drafted by the College of Policing following extensive public and stakeholder consultation. In accordance...

My rt hon Friend the Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire (Chris Philp) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement:

College of Policing Codes of Practice

The Government is today laying two important and significant Codes of Practice concerning the vetting of police officers and police information...

My rt hon Friend the Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire (Chris Philp) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement:

College of Policing Codes of Practice

The Government is today laying two important and significant Codes of Practice concerning the vetting of police officers and police information...

My Lords, I begin by acknowledging that non-crime hate incidents have attracted a significant amount of controversy, particularly in this place, due to concerns relating to free speech. I am grateful to all those who expressed their views on this topic during the passage of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and...

My Lords, I begin by acknowledging that non-crime hate incidents have attracted a significant amount of controversy, particularly in this place, due to concerns relating to free speech. I am grateful to all those who expressed their views on this topic during the passage of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and...

My Lords, I must begin by acknowledging the role of my noble friend Lord Moylan, who sadly cannot speak in this debate today. My noble friend moved amendments, which I supported, to the then Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill in the autumn of 2020. We sought to make the...

My Lords, I must begin by acknowledging the role of my noble friend Lord Moylan, who sadly cannot speak in this debate today. My noble friend moved amendments, which I supported, to the then Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill in the autumn of 2020. We sought to make the...

My Lords, I too pay tribute to my noble friend Lord Moylan for tabling the amendments that have enabled the Home Secretary to issue this new draft code. I repeat how much he regrets being unable to be with us today.

The need for reform of non-crime hate incidents is clear...

My Lords, I too pay tribute to my noble friend Lord Moylan for tabling the amendments that have enabled the Home Secretary to issue this new draft code. I repeat how much he regrets being unable to be with us today.

The need for reform of non-crime hate incidents is clear...

My Lords, I too commend the draft code of practice. The Home Office team has done an excellent job on it. My concern, like that of my noble friend Lord Strathcarron, is to do with the interpretation of the code of practice by the College of Policing.

To add further to...

My Lords, I too commend the draft code of practice. The Home Office team has done an excellent job on it. My concern, like that of my noble friend Lord Strathcarron, is to do with the interpretation of the code of practice by the College of Policing.

To add further to...

My Lords, at the outset, I declare my interests as in the register. I am a member of the British Transport Police Authority but, for the avoidance of doubt, none of my comments is aimed at the British Transport Police, its officers or the authority.

I welcome this draft code of...

My Lords, at the outset, I declare my interests as in the register. I am a member of the British Transport Police Authority but, for the avoidance of doubt, none of my comments is aimed at the British Transport Police, its officers or the authority.

I welcome this draft code of...

My Lords, I certainly do not want to oppose the adoption of this code but, as the Minister said, it is important that we look at it in a proportionate way, because it is important that these statistics are available to the police and to ensure that we have good...

My Lords, I certainly do not want to oppose the adoption of this code but, as the Minister said, it is important that we look at it in a proportionate way, because it is important that these statistics are available to the police and to ensure that we have good...

My Lords, this feels a little like that quiz programme, “Just a Minute”: I have now got the subject back and am trying to remember where I was.

I think I had made the point that there were criticisms of the consultation process by the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee, which said:

“These...

My Lords, this feels a little like that quiz programme, “Just a Minute”: I have now got the subject back and am trying to remember where I was.

I think I had made the point that there were criticisms of the consultation process by the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee, which said:

“These...

My Lords, in the Explanatory Memorandum, the Government say that they have consulted, although not formally, with “key policing stakeholders” but, as others have said, the Secondary Legislation Committee says in its 35th report that it asked the Home Office whether they had consulted more widely,

“for example, free speech advocates,...

My Lords, in the Explanatory Memorandum, the Government say that they have consulted, although not formally, with “key policing stakeholders” but, as others have said, the Secondary Legislation Committee says in its 35th report that it asked the Home Office whether they had consulted more widely,

“for example, free speech advocates,...

My Lords, this new Draft Code of Practice on the Recording and Retention of Personal Data in relation to non-crime hate incidents has been created following the ruling of the Court of Appeal in 2021 in Miller v the College of Policing. The court found that the recording of non-crime...

My Lords, this new Draft Code of Practice on the Recording and Retention of Personal Data in relation to non-crime hate incidents has been created following the ruling of the Court of Appeal in 2021 in Miller v the College of Policing. The court found that the recording of non-crime...

I thank all noble Lords for participating in this very interesting and important debate, particularly for the supportive and constructive atmosphere in which it has taken place. I reiterate my gratitude to the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs’ Council, and to senior police officers who helpfully have...

I thank all noble Lords for participating in this very interesting and important debate, particularly for the supportive and constructive atmosphere in which it has taken place. I reiterate my gratitude to the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs’ Council, and to senior police officers who helpfully have...

I turn to the speech of my noble friend Lord Jackson of Peterborough. Of the issues he raises, I will just address the question of how the code interrelates with DBS checks. This code does not prohibit disclosure of non-crime hate incident personal data as police information on an enhanced...

I turn to the speech of my noble friend Lord Jackson of Peterborough. Of the issues he raises, I will just address the question of how the code interrelates with DBS checks. This code does not prohibit disclosure of non-crime hate incident personal data as police information on an enhanced...

I accept what the Minister said and thank him for it, but I was keen to find out why the feedback was not published.

I accept what the Minister said and thank him for it, but I was keen to find out why the feedback was not published.

I will make inquiries in relation to that and write to my noble friend.

I turn to the remarks made by the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton. We were all shocked and saddened by the offending to which she was exposed that she described to the Committee. It is the Government’s view...

I will make inquiries in relation to that and write to my noble friend.

I turn to the remarks made by the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton. We were all shocked and saddened by the offending to which she was exposed that she described to the Committee. It is the Government’s view...

Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 9 February 2023 to Question 140163 on Police: Vetting, how many and what proportion of serving and retired police officers and staff are (a) enrolled on the Police Elimination Database and (b) have been identified...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 9 February 2023 to Question 140163 on Police: Vetting, how many and what proportion of serving and retired police officers and staff are (a) enrolled on the Police Elimination Database and (b) have been identified...