Speeches by Richards.

“My constituency is on the outskirts of Rotherham. After your report and Baroness Casey’s report, clearly there has been great progress in Rotherham and in children’s services. There are still great challenges and you never let your eye off the ball, but there has been a lot of progress. Where progress has been made—equ…”

“Not just for protecting the victims, but also for them to achieve the best evidence. John O’Brien: Yes.”

“This is a long-standing problem, and the previous Government did not do anywhere near enough to deal with it. What they did do, when former Prime Minister Liz Truss was Lord Chancellor, was arrange for more dogs to bark at drones around prisons, which they assured us would work. Has the Ministry of Justice done an asse…”

“I am grateful to the Foreign Secretary for his answer. Last month I had the privilege of meeting Mandy, Emily’s mother, to discuss her family’s plight and their campaign and efforts to secure Emily’s release. I know that the Foreign Secretary met Mandy yesterday in Israel; I spoke to her afterwards, and she was very gr…”

“6. What steps his Department is taking to help secure the release of Emily Damari.”

“I would be very grateful.”

“This Bill provides us with an important moment. For many decades, children’s social care has been overlooked—an afterthought for Government. Over the past 30 years, politicians of all colours have too often failed the most vulnerable children in this country—the children who are unable to be looked after by their own f…”

“My hon. Friend’s review, which he drew up before being elected to this place, contained some of the provisions that are now in this legislation, so he should be praised for that work. As I was saying, the High Court raised this issue in 2020. It took the unusual step of sending a judgment to the relevant Minister setti…”

“Residents in Maltby are furious about new plans for the old Maltby pit. I am joining them to campaign ferociously against the plans, because the environmental risk is too great and the amount of lorries going through the village would be hugely damaging to the community. Will the Government provide time for Parliament …”

“Earlier this month, the National Audit Office produced a report on the link between an increase in police numbers and pressures on the prison estates. I know that is not perhaps not under your remit. However, what is the relationship between the two like on modelling for prison capacity as we hope to increase the numbe…”

“In connection with the link that Paul was asking about between skills and immigration, I wanted to ask about the immigration skills charge. It was introduced in 2017, designed partially at least to confront that mischief, if I can put it like that. However, it seems as if that money just goes into Treasury coffers and …”

“I should have declared an interest in that a family member works for the Home Secretary. I forgot to do that previously. I want to ask quickly about immigration detention and the Brook House inquiry. It was published in 2023 and made 33 recommendations. Last year, before the election, it seemed to emerge that the previ…”

“First, the neighbourhood policing commitment and commitment to recruit 13,000 new PCSOs is very welcome, especially in constituencies like mine where community policing has been dismantled over the last decade. I want to get some further clarity on how this will be funded. The letter that you and Diana Johnson kindly s…”

“It is right though, isn’t it, that the spending review process has started and that there are still efficiencies to be made? The Government have set out areas that they are looking at in the Home Office. I also note that the police productivity funding area will be announced for 2025 next year. Could I ask about two pe…”

“It is good to hear about the work that Dame Diana Johnson is doing on facial recognition technology. I do not expect to hold you to a date, but is there any time span for when the Government might come forward with a new legal framework? Is that a work in progress?”

“From what I have read, the results from the three forces that are using facial recognition technology can be quite important.”

“I will try to be brief. Chief Constable Poultney, I want to ask about the Manvers hotel, which was the biggest event in South Yorkshire. What assessment did you make of how many officers were going to be needed in the build-up to that, and how did that change throughout the day? I ask because a constituent of mine is a…”

“On a micro issue, a lot of this evolves in social media. Forgive me if this is a naive question, but does every force have a social media strategy and a communications team? Is this part of their brief? Sorry if that is a silly question.”

“Is there a strategy going forward? There is thought, but is coherent thought going into how to counter this unfairness?”

“That is all fair. You spoke about the CPS being expeditious. On that issue, although you are right and bringing criminals swiftly to justice should be applauded, clearly some in the public see this look like special treatment. How can the Government or all of us and you do a better job at explaining this in these circu…”