2 Feb 2010 : Column 3P

2 Feb 2010 : Column 3P

Petitions

Tuesday 2 February 2010

Presented Petitions

Petition presented to the House but not read on the Floor

Badman Report (Bury St. Edmunds)

The Petition of persons resident in the Bury St. Edmunds parliamentary constituency,

Declares that they are concerned about the recommendations of the Badman Report, which suggests closer monitoring of home educators, including a compulsory annual registration scheme and right of access to people's homes for local authority officials; further declares that the Petitioners believe the recommendations are based on a review that was extremely rushed, failed to give due consideration to the evidence, failed to ensure that the data it collected were sufficiently robust, and failed to take proper account of the existing legislative framework.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families either not to bring forward, or to withdraw, proposed legislative measures providing for tighter registration and monitoring of children educated at home in the absence of a thorough independent inquiry into the condition and future of elective home education in England; but instead to take the steps necessary to ensure that the existing Elective Home Education Guidelines for Local Authorities are properly implemented, learning from current best practice, in all local authorities in England.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

[P000727]

Badman Report (Leominster)

The Petition of persons resident in the Leominster parliamentary constituency,

Declares that they are concerned about the recommendations of the Badman Report, which suggests closer monitoring of home educators, including a compulsory annual registration scheme and right of access to people's homes for local authority officials; further declares that the Petitioners believe the recommendations are based on a review that was extremely rushed, failed to give due consideration to the evidence, failed to ensure that the data it collected were sufficiently robust, and failed to take proper account of the existing legislative framework.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families either not to bring forward, or to withdraw, proposed legislative measures providing for tighter registration and monitoring of children educated at home in the absence of a thorough independent
2 Feb 2010 : Column 4P
inquiry into the condition and future of elective home education in England; but instead to take the steps necessary to ensure that the existing Elective Home Education Guidelines for Local Authorities are properly implemented, learning from current best practice, in all local authorities in England.

And the Petitioners remain, etc. -[Presented by Bill Wiggin .]

[P000728]

Observations

Home Department

Use of Premises (Essex)

The Petition of residents of Carlton Drive and surrounding areas,

Declares that a property in Carlton Drive is being used as an illegal brothel under the name A13 Bliss; that the Petitioners are deeply concerned about the impact of this activity in an otherwise quiet and respectable residential area, that they are further concerned about the danger and intimidation this brings to residents and young people in the area and that they welcome the actions of the Council and police to investigate and deal with this matter under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and the so called Brothels Act 2007

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons implores the Government to encourage Castle Point Borough Council, Essex Police and HM Revenue and Customs, to take urgent and tough action to immediately end the improper use of the property in this otherwise quiet and respectable residential area and take appropriate action against anyone who is breaking the law.

And the Petitioners remain, etc. -[Presented by Bob Spink , Official Report, 1 December 2009; Vol. 501, c. 1079 .]

[P000441]

Observations from the Secretary of State for the Home Department:

The Government understand that the presence of brothels in certain areas, especially areas that are largely residential, can be a source of distress for people living locally. Where local people have concerns about a particular property it is right that the police, and where necessary the local authority, investigate the property and take action if appropriate.

Under section 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, the police are able to close down a property for a period of three months and prevent particular people from entering if the property is linked to antisocial behaviour or the use of class A drugs. Under measures introduced by the Policing and Crime Act 2009, the police will also have similar powers to close a property if it is associated with certain sexual offences. It is also an offence to keep a brothel or control prostitution.


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