The Prime Minister will today, Tuesday 4 February, launch the next UN climate conference COP26, joined by Sir David Attenborough and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte at an event in central London.

At the event, he will set out the UK’s position as a world leader in the response to climate change, having made a legal commitment to achieve net zero emissions, and call all nations to strive towards this goal.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:

Hosting COP26 is an important opportunity for the UK and nations across the globe to step up in the fight against climate change. As we set out our plans to hit our ambitious 2050 net zero target across this year, so we shall urge others to join us in pledging net zero emissions.

There can be no greater responsibility than protecting our planet, and no mission that a Global Britain is prouder to serve. 2020 must be the year we turn the tide on global warming– it will be the year when we choose a cleaner, greener future for all.

The Prime Minister will use the speech to call for international efforts to reach net zero as early as possible through investment in cleaner, greener technology, preservation of our natural habitat and measures to improve resilience to climate change impact.

At the event, which will also be attended by Sir David Attenborough, the Prime Minister will reinforce his commitment to tackling climate change and biodiversity loss simultaneously, recognising the important role of the restoration of nature in his vision.

Demonstrating the UK’s urgent action to reduce emissions, the Government plans to bring forward an end to the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans to 2035, or earlier if a faster transition is feasible, subject to consultation, as well as including hybrids for the first time.

The Government will continue to work with all sectors of industry to accelerate the rollout of zero emission vehicles – helping to deliver new green jobs in the UK.

Business and Energy Secretary Andrea Leadsom said:

The UK has a proud record in tackling climate change and making the most of the enormous economic potential of clean technologies.

This is my number one priority, and we will raise our ambition in this year of climate action, including with new plans to decarbonise every sector, enabling a greener future for all our children.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:

This government’s £1.5bn strategy to make owning an electric vehicle as easy as possible is working – last year alone, a fully electric car was sold every 15 minutes.

We want to go further than ever before. That’s why we are bringing forward our already ambitious target to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars to tackle climate change and reduce emissions.

The Prime Minister and Prime Minister Conte will lead the discussion on the fight against climate change as part of the larger global alliance which makes up COP26.

Later this month, Italy will host the meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Rome ahead of this year’s critical biodiversity summit, COP15, when countries from around the world are due to agree on a new global framework to protect plants and wildlife.

Today’s launch will also kick off a Year of Climate Action, with events to take place in all four nations of the UK, and businesses and charities encouraged to participate in the run-up to the summit in Glasgow in November.

The CDEI publishes recommendations to make online platforms more accountable, increase transparency, and empower users to take control of how they are targeted. These include:

• New systemic regulation of the online targeting systems that promote and recommend content like posts, videos and adverts.

• Powers to require platforms to allow independent researchers secure access to their data to build an evidence base on issues of public concern – from the potential links between social media use and declining mental health, to its role in incentivising the spread of misinformation

• Platforms to host publicly accessible online archives for ‘high-risk’ adverts, including politics, ‘opportunities’ (e.g. jobs, housing, credit) and age-restricted products.

• Steps to encourage long-term wholesale reform of online targeting to give individuals greater control over how their online experiences are personalised.

The CDEI recommendations come as the government develops proposals for online harms regulation.

The Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI), the UK’s independent advisory body on the ethical use of AI and data-driven technology, has warned that people are being left in the dark about the way that major platforms target information at their users, in its first report to the government.

The CDEI’s year long review of online targeting systems – which use personal information about users to decide which posts, videos and adverts to show them – has found that existing regulation is out of step with the public’s expectations.

A major new analysis of public attitudes towards online targeting, conducted with Ipsos MORI, finds that people welcome the convenience of targeting systems, but are concerned that platforms are unaccountable for the way their systems could cause harm to individuals and society, such as by increasing discrimination and harming the vulnerable. The research highlighted most concern was related to social media platforms.

The analysis found that only 28% of people trust platforms to target them in a responsible way, and when they try to change settings, only one-third (33%) of people trust these companies to do what they ask. 61% of people favoured greater regulatory oversight of online targeting, compared with 17% of people who support self-regulation.

The CDEI’s recommendations to the government would increase the accountability of platforms, improve transparency and give users more meaningful control of their online experience.

The recommendations strike a balance by protecting users from the potential harms of online targeting, without inhibiting the kind of personalisation of the online experience that the public find useful. Clear governance will support the development and take-up of socially beneficial applications of online targeting, including by the public sector.

The report calls for internet regulation to be developed in a way that promotes human rights-based international norms, and recommends that the online harms regulator should have a statutory duty to protect and respect freedom of expression and privacy.

Roger Taylor, Chair of the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation, said:

Most people do not want targeting stopped. But they do want to know that it is being done safely and responsibly. And they want more control. Tech platforms’ ability to decide what information people see puts them in a position of real power. To build public trust over the long-term it is vital for the Government to ensure that the new online harms regulator looks at how platforms recommend content, establishing robust processes to protect vulnerable people.

Dr Bernadka Dubicka, Chair of the Child and Adolescent Faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said:

We completely agree that there needs to be greater accountability, transparency and control in the online world. It is fantastic to see the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation join our call for the regulator to be able to compel social media companies to give independent researchers secure access to their data.

Children sexually abused by family members are going unseen and unheard in too many cases, while abusers evade justice, according to a new report.

Inspectorates Ofsted, HMICFRS, Care Quality Commission and HMI Probation found that local agencies are often woefully ill-equipped to deal with child sex abuse in families. Efforts to prevent abuse are largely absent, while ineffective criminal investigations are, in the worst cases, leaving children at risk.

Familial abuse accounts for some two thirds of all child sex abuse, though the true figure could be even higher due to under-reporting. Despite the likely extent of the problem, local and national strategies to tackle it are virtually non-existent, the report shows.

The inspectorates expose a worrying lack of knowledge and focus on familial abuse from all local partners. While agencies have improved their response to child grooming outside the home, the less high-profile issue of familial sex abuse is not getting the priority it needs, the report finds.

Today’s report examines how well children’s social care, health, youth offending, police and probation services work together to keep children who are sexually abused in families safe. Although inspectors found pockets of good work, this was inconsistent at best.

Important lessons learned from dealing with child sexual exploitation are not being applied to abuse in families. Professionals don’t know enough about perpetrators; how to identify them and how to stop them from abusing children. Better training and support for those on the front line is vital, the inspectorates say.

The report calls on policy makers and local partners to give familial sex abuse the attention it deserves; so that its prevalence can be better understood, victims are protected, and offenders are brought to justice.

Report findings

Practice is too police-led, focusing on the criminal investigation at the expense of children

Health services aren’t always being brought around the table. Children are left without medical treatment for possible sexually transmitted infections, other injuries and without mental health support – because police determine that medical examinations aren’t needed if they fall outside the window for forensic evidence.

Poor-quality criminal investigations

Significant delays to police investigations mean that children are left in limbo, or at worst unsafe. Rather than arrest, voluntary attendance is being used to interview suspects, so children aren’t protected by bail, while potential abusers could be destroying evidence. Inappropriate bail conditions leave abusers free to contact and, in some cases, even return to live with the children they are abusing.

Preventative work is absent or focused on known offenders

Inspectors saw little work to educate the public about risks relating to child sex abuse. It was also clear that, possibly due to a reluctance to discuss the topic, local partners are not prioritising prevention work.

Professionals rely too heavily on children to speak out about abuse

Children are unlikely to tell someone that they are being sexually abused, particularly when they know the perpetrator. Parents, professionals and the public must understand and know how to respond to the signs and symptoms of child sexual abuse – education is vital.

Some initiatives are working well, but these are too piecemeal

Inspectors found examples of effective work in all areas. For example, when children do receive support, it is usually good quality and makes a positive difference – for example the cross-borough Lighthouse project, which provides therapeutic support for victims and their families. While individual initiatives and campaigns are working well, these are not in place in all areas. A more consistent and strategic approach to what works would widen impact and efficacy.

Efforts to protect children are also being hampered because agencies, and society more generally, are afraid to talk about familial sex abuse, the report finds. Within communities, there remains a disbelief and denial that sex abuse can happen at home.

Communities, organisations and the media all have important roles to play. Work is needed to create an environment where children and adults can talk about sexual abuse more easily, the inspectorates say.

Amanda Spielman, Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, said:

As a society, we are far too reluctant to talk about sex abuse within the family home. It’s much easier to think of abuse happening elsewhere, to other people. Prevention is the best form of protection. If we are to deal with incest or other abuse involving families or family friends, we must talk openly and honestly about the signs and symptoms – to protect children and to stop abusers in their tracks.

As it stands, children abused in the home are going unseen and unheard because agencies simply aren’t capable of keeping them safe. The lack of national and local focus on this issue is deeply concerning and must be addressed.

Ursula Gallagher, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice and Children’s Health, said:

The impact of abuse is far-reaching and has a lasting effect of the child and those around them – this report highlights too many missed opportunities to better protect them from harm. It is vital that people in healthcare and across other agencies work together, think about the wider social situation a child might be living in, share information to protect children from abuse and create support around those who are at risk.

Wendy Williams, HM Inspector of Constabulary, said:

As detailed in today’s report, we believe that the police and other agencies do not prioritise this kind of abuse highly enough. This results in missed opportunities to safeguard vulnerable and at-risk children. There needs to be an increased awareness of child sexual abuse in the family environment, with better training and support given to frontline professionals (for example, in how to recognise non-verbal signs of sexual abuse). This will enable those professionals to successfully intervene at the earliest possible stage and to safeguard the child from further harm.

Justin Russell, Chief Inspector of Probation, said:

Probation staff – alongside those in other agencies – should receive specific training to identify and respond to signs of abuse. Professional curiosity is essential too. Actions such as conducting home visits or cross-checking information with police and social services could help to keep actual and potential victims safe.

Notes to editors

• Amanda Spielman is available for interview. Please contact Ofsted’s press office on 03000 131 673 to arrange.
• The six local authorities visited were Bracknell Forest, Cornwall, Derby City, Islington, Shropshire and York.
• Sexual abuse in the family environment may be perpetrated by a family member, including a child or adult sibling, or by a person close to, or known to, the family. This could be a family friend, a partner of a parent or other trusted adult.

Given the recent events at London Bridge and Streatham, the Parole Board understands and welcomes the Government’s plans to ensure that terrorist offenders are not released automatically, as occurred in these incidents but are instead considered by an independent panel of the Parole Board. Our over-riding priority is the protection of the public.  

The independent Parole Board will not direct the release of an offender unless we are satisfied, taking account of all the evidence, that detention is no longer necessary for the protection of the public. The Board’s focus is rightly on those who have committed the most serious criminal offences and it is vital that the most serious offenders are subject to a proper assessment before their release.

Published 3 February 2020

With permission Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to make a statement about the senseless and horrific terror attack in Streatham yesterday afternoon.

Two members of the public were brutally stabbed as they went about their business on the busy High road.

Another was injured as our brave police stepped in before even more harm could be done.

And honourable Members I’m sure will join me in sending our thoughts and prayers to the victims, their families and to all those affected by this appalling attack.

I would also like to pay tribute to our outstanding emergency services who once again ran towards, ran towards untold danger to protect the public: the police who shot the offender to save others and the ambulance staff who fearlessly tended the wounded despite the risk to their own lives.

Protecting the public is, has to be the number one priority for this Government.

Operational Update

Madam Deputy Speaker, the Streatham incident is subject to an ongoing police investigation and as such, I am limited in what I can say at this time, but I would like to share what details I am able to with the House.

A known terrorist senselessly stabbed a man and a woman on Streatham High road about 2pm yesterday afternoon.

The attacker has yet to be formally identified, but police are confident that it was 20-year-old Sudesh Amman.

In December 2018 he was imprisoned for 3 years and 4 months for 16 counts of distributing extremist material and for the possession of material likely to be useful for the purposes of preparing a terrorist act.

The sentence he received was a standard determinate sentence and that means one week ago he was automatically released half way through that term.

The Parole Board had no involvement in the matter. The law required automatic unconditional release at the half-way point.

Amman was being followed by armed police officers when he made his attack, and they immediately shot him dead before he could harm any others.

They stepped in despite the fact he appeared to be wearing an explosive device, which has now been confirmed as fake.

A female member of the public in her 20s was hurt by broken glass as shots were fired to end the threat.

She remains in hospital as does the male victim in his 40s, who I am pleased to say is now recovering after initially fighting for his life.

The other female victim in her 50s has since been discharged and our thoughts are with them all.

As this is an ongoing investigation it would be not appropriate for me to comment further on the case while the full facts are established.

But I would like to reassure Honourable Members that our outstanding security services and the police have the full support of the Government as they investigate this atrocity.

Managing terrorists

Madam Deputy Speaker I also want to talk about our security services, police, prison and probation officers and their joint response.

All of these operational agencies are truly first class and they are the epitome of public duty.

And the swift response to yesterday’s attack, monitoring the threat and responding quickly when it escalated, can give us confidence that the police and security services are doing all they can to keep the public safe.

Our prisons

And our prisons and probation services have robust measures in place to deal with terrorist offenders and we are at the forefront of international efforts to counter this threat.

All terrorist prisoners and individuals who are considered to be an extremist risk are managed through a specialist case management process. Most can be dealt with as part of the mainstream prison population, but where it’s necessary a small number of the very highest risk offenders are now managed in Separation Centres.

The time an offender spends in prison is an opportunity to do our best to rehabilitate, recognising that this is no simple challenge. Psychological, theological and mental health interventions are all used, and HMPPS psychologists supply two formal counter-radicalisation programmes used both in custody and in the community.

And in addition, the Desistance and Disengagement Programme (DDP) was rolled out in prisons in 2018. This provides a range of intensive, tailored interventions designed to address the root causes of terrorism.

And I want to pay tribute to the work of our prisons and probation staff, they are dedicated to keeping the public safe, they work tirelessly to try to turn lives around, even in the face of such a deep-seated ideology.

Counter Terrorism Bill

The tragic events at Fishmongers’ Hall in November of last year showed that we need to look carefully at the way we deal with terrorist offenders.

And I have long been clear, as has my Right Honourable Friend the Prime Minister, that automatic half-way release is simply not right in all cases.

After the London Bridge attack, the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary and I immediately promised a major shake-up of our response to terrorism.

And two weeks ago, the Home Secretary and I announced clear measures, a tough new approach and a new commitment to crack down on offenders and keep people safe. And those measures include:

Introducing longer and tougher sentences for serious terrorist offenders, ending release for them before the end of their custodial term and opening up longer licence periods, whilst keeping the worst offenders locked up for a mandatory minimum 14-year term.

Secondly, the overhauling of prisons and probation tougher monitoring conditions, including lie detector tests to assess risks

Thirdly, doubling the number of counter-terrorism probation officers.

And also investing in Counter-Terrorism Police, providing an increase in funding of £90m from April.

And finally, putting victims first by reviewing the support available to them, including an immediate £500k boost for the Victims of Terrorism Unit.

And we have also announced an independent review of our Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements, the MAPPA arrangements, to be led by Jonathan Hall QC. And this is looking at pre-release planning as well as the management of offenders upon release in the community.

Many of these measures will be included in a new Counter-Terrorism (Sentencing and Release) Bill to be introduced in the first 100 days of this re-elected Government.

But Madam Deputy Speaker, yesterday’s appalling incident makes the case plainly for immediate action.

We cannot have the situation, as we saw tragically in yesterday’s case, where an offender – a known risk to innocent members of the public – is released early by automatic process of law, without any oversight by the Parole Board.

We will be doing everything we can to protect the public, that is our primary duty. And we will therefore introduce emergency legislation to ensure an end to terrorist offenders getting released automatically, having served half of their sentence with no check or review. The underlying principle has to be that offenders will no longer be released early automatically and that any release before the end of their sentence will be dependent on risk assessment by the Parole Board.

We face an unprecedented situation of severe gravity and, as such, it demands that the government responds immediately and that this legislation will therefore also apply to serving prisoners.

Now, the earliest point at which these offenders will now be considered for release will be once they have served two-thirds of their sentence and, crucially, we will introduce a requirement that no terrorist offender will be released before the end of the full custodial term unless the Parole Board agrees. And we will ensure that the functions of the Parole Board are strengthened to deal even more effectively with the specific risk that terrorists pose to public safety. So for example, we will ensure that the appropriate specialisms are in place. That work is in train and we will take steps to implement this as soon as possible.

When someone is released we will always ensure that terrorist offenders are subject to the most robust safeguards. And we will consider whether new legislation is required to provide additional assurance.

And finally, we will review whether the current maximum penalties and sentencing framework for terrorist offences is indeed sufficient or comprehensive on the underlying principle that terrorist offenders should no longer be released until the Parole Board is satisfied that they are no longer a risk to the public.

Conclusion

As I have said Madam Deputy Speaker, keeping our streets and our people safe is our first duty.

We face a threat from an ideology that takes no heed for others, and we must use every tool we can to make sure that that threat is neutralised.

The British public have a proud history of coming together in times of adversity against those who seek to divide us.

And it is together we can make sure that the terrorists who seek to threaten our way of life will never win.

This Government will do everything in our power to defeat them and to ensure the public is protected.

And I commend this statement to the House.