Commons Backs Crime Crackdown, Advances Infected Blood Redress

High-Level Summary

The Commons sat for Health and Social Care questions, a statement on the infected blood compensation scheme, and a Home Office statement on plans to reduce knife crime. Ministers reported NHS recovery measures across maternity, primary care, dentistry, mental health and management. The House then considered Lords amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, accepting wide changes on intimate image abuse and pornography while rejecting others on protest and terrorism, in multiple divisions. MPs also gave leave for a Ten Minute Rule Bill on type 1 diabetes screening, received a petition on road safety in Old Woking, and held an Adjournment Debate on dualling the A21.

Detailed Summary

Oral Answers to Questions: Health and Social Care

Context and participants: Questions covered underperforming trusts, maternity safety, NHS management, mental health, dentistry, GP access, discrimination, early‑years services, waiting lists, eating disorders and cancer. The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting), junior Ministers and backbenchers contributed.

Key points: The Secretary of State said, “Under Labour, the NHS is on the road to recovery” and confirmed Mid and South Essex is in the intensive recovery programme, “sending in teams of clinical experts”. On maternity, he has asked Baroness Amos to investigate, alongside immediate actions including “an extra 2,000 midwives”, and confirmed £40 million for Wythenshawe with completion by 2028. On continuity of care, he said the idea of women knowing their team in advance “is a compelling one”. On management, the Minister said the disbarring system will stop leaders “failing upwards”. Mental health funding will reach “a record £16.1 billion” this year. In dentistry, Ministers reported “1.8 million more treatments” since July 2024, with urgent‑care data due in August, and from April NHS dentists must deliver 8.2% urgent care. On GP access, “There are 2,000 more GPs than in July 2024” and patients must be able to contact practices by phone and in person as well as online; the Minister defended Advice & Guidance as routine practice. On discrimination, the NHS will use a definition of anti‑Muslim hostility, and the Secretary of State described “shocking racism experienced by Jewish staff”. Healthy Babies services will receive £200 million across 75 local authorities. The Secretary of State said waiting lists are now at “the lowest level in nearly three and a half years”, announcing a new MRI for Southlands CDC. Eating disorders policy includes a prevalence review and improved transition at 18. On cancer, “around 39,000 more people started their cancer treatment within 62 days” over the past year; the NHS workforce plan will be published “in the spring—very soon”.

Outcomes/next steps: Intensive support to underperforming trusts; maternity investigation and taskforce actions; management professionalisation and disbarring; continued mental health roll‑out; dentistry reforms and consultation on contract change in summer; GP access measures through the new contract; anti‑discrimination actions; Healthy Babies national rollout over a decade.

Statement: Infected Blood Compensation Scheme

Context and participants: The Cabinet Office Minister updated the House on delivery of compensation and the Government response to the inquiry’s additional report and consultation.

Key points: As of 7 April, “3,273 people have received an offer and over £2 billion has now been paid out”. Changes include a supplementary award for those eligible under the special category mechanism, backdated to 2017; a new “level 2B” severity band for interferon treatment; removal of the 25% deduction for past care and adopting the most favourable method for past financial loss; and a £60,000 exceptional loss lump sum where clear higher‑earning potential was impeded. Unethical research awards are increased, including raising Treloar’s to £60,000 and creating a new award for those treated elsewhere in childhood. Those infected at 18 or under will receive a 50% uplift to the core autonomy award. A feedback mechanism will publish quarterly summaries, and “further legislation” will be brought forward.

Exchanges and next steps: The Minister confirmed “the formal exchange of letters” with Sir Brian Langstaff and said he wants to “bring forward further legislation as soon as possible”. He emphasised the tariff‑based scheme delivers “broad justice” without onerous evidence burdens and noted payments to infected people now exceed £2 billion.

Statement: Knife Crime – Plan to halve offences

Context and participants: The Home Office set out “Protecting lives, building hope”, a plan to halve knife crime over the next decade.

Key points: The Minister cited enacted bans on “zombie‑style knives… and ninja swords”, and reported, “Since the start of this Parliament, knife crime is down by 8% and knife homicides are down by 27%”. The plan focuses on four outcomes: early support; stopping those at risk; “visible local policing” with 13,000 personnel in neighbourhood roles by the end of this Parliament; and ending repeat harm. It also promises the toughest crackdown yet on online knife sales (“Ronan’s law”). In debate, the Minister confirmed the Crime and Policing Bill will create a “new offence of knife possession with intent… [with a] seven‑year maximum sentence”. MPs pressed for school‑based prevention, a potential knife‑retailer licensing scheme, and stronger online enforcement. Ministers pointed to Young Futures hubs, targeted support for schools, the National Knife Crime Centre and retailer reporting of bulk sales, and said they are considering licensing following consultation.

Ten Minute Rule Motion: Type 1 Diabetes Screening (Children)

Sarah Bool sought leave to introduce a Bill “to make provision for a national programme of screening for type 1 diabetes in children”. She explained type 1 as an autoimmune condition and outlined disease stages detected by islet autoantibodies, arguing that early identification reduces diabetic ketoacidosis and allows access to therapies such as teplizumab. She cited the ELSA study offering screening to children aged 2 to 17 across the UK. The House granted leave; the Bill was read a First time and set down for Second Reading on 8 May.

Crime and Policing Bill: Consideration of Lords Amendments

Context and participants: The Minister (Sarah Jones) opened for the Government. MPs across the House debated wide‑ranging changes on antisocial behaviour, online harms, terrorism, protest and abortion records.

Key points accepted: The Government accepted Lords provisions to criminalise possession/publication of pornographic images depicting strangulation or suffocation; to extend aggravated offences to cover hostility based on sex, sexual orientation, disability and transgender identity; and to introduce pardons and disregards for those cautioned/convicted as children for loitering/soliciting. On intimate image abuse, the Government will criminalise making/adapting/supplying AI nudification tools and bring unregulated AI chatbots within Online Safety Act scope via regulations—“Taken together, the measures will deliver an effective ban on nudification tools”; introduce court image‑deletion orders; create Ofcom‑enforced take‑down duties backed by potential criminal liability for senior executives; and support a trusted‑flagger register for non‑consensual intimate images. Further pornography reforms will criminalise depictions of step‑incest where one person is portrayed as under 18 and adults credibly role‑playing as children. Ministers will report within 12 months on strengthening age/consent verification for performers and take a regulation‑making power to implement the outcome. Fly‑tipping proposals from the Lords were replaced with a power for courts to impose 3 to 9 driving‑licence penalty points when a vehicle is used in the offence. The new offence of possession of a weapon with intent will carry a seven‑year maximum, not ten.

Key points rejected and alternative approaches: The Government opposed creating an “extreme criminal protest groups” regime, citing concerns from the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation. On high‑street illegality, instead of a fixed 12‑month closure‑order extension, the House agreed to require consultation and grant a regulation‑making power to extend durations. The Government resisted abolishing non‑crime hate incidents outright, pointing to a new national standard with a higher recording threshold. They rejected removing the historical safeguard from the offence of encouraging terrorism and asked the Independent Reviewer to examine the offence within six months of Royal Assent. On AI chatbots, Ministers took a power to regulate and committed to report progress by year‑end. On abortion, the Government stayed neutral on automatic pardons and record deletions, tabling technical amendments to ensure workability.

Protest: Extensive debate concerned Lords amendment 312 on “cumulative disruption”. The Minister said police already can consider cumulative disruption under the Public Order Act, and the change would mean they “must” consider it when imposing conditions, without expanding powers to ban protests. Opponents warned of impacts on civil liberties and trade union activity (e.g., “an unacceptable attack on our democracy”).

Divisions/outcomes: The House disagreed with Lords amendment 2 (Fixed Penalty Notices), Ayes 307, Noes 176; 6 (Fly‑tipping enforcement guidance), Ayes 299, Noes 169; 11 (Vehicle seizure for fly‑tipping), Ayes 291, Noes 174; 311 (Extreme criminal protest groups), Ayes 300, Noes 101; 333 (Closure orders extension), Ayes 301, Noes 157; 334 (Non‑crime hate incidents), Ayes 356, Noes 90; 342 (Youth diversion orders), Ayes 281, Noes 70; 357 (Glorification of terrorism), Ayes 278, Noes 73; and 359 (IRGC proscription review), Ayes 277, Noes 158. The House also disagreed to 360 and 368 to 372, agreeing a Government amendment in lieu, and to 439 and 505. A large block of other Lords amendments was agreed.

Petition: Road Safety in Old Woking

Will Forster presented a petition concerning “serious concerns about the speed and volume of traffic on Old Woking High Street” near St Peter’s Church, requesting measures to slow vehicles or manage flow. The petition was recorded.

Adjournment Debate: Dualling of the A21

Dr Kieran Mullan argued that south of Pembury the A21 is “predominantly single‑carriageway” with unsafe conditions and villages divided by heavy traffic. He urged progressing dualling and bypass options to unlock growth and improve safety. The Roads Minister acknowledged the route’s importance and recent safety spend but said there are “no plans” to dual at present or in the current pipeline, citing cost, topography and environmental constraints. He pointed to Kippings Cross as a pinch‑point candidate within RIS3 programmes and encouraged continued engagement with National Highways.