I fully appreciate the concerns of local businesses with regard to the uncertainty over Swanscombe peninsular. My Department works very closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. I will gladly raise this with the Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Jake Berry), when I see him tomorrow.

I am pleased to say that Dartford has been shortlisted for the future high streets fund to renew its town centre. This will build on £4.3 million support already allocated from the South East local enterprise partnership growth fund.

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend who has taken up this issue tirelessly. As he knows, the Parole Board will release a life sentence prisoner only when, in its view, it is no longer necessary on the grounds of public protection for a prisoner to remain in custody. In making its determination, the board will consider reports from those who manage the prisoner and have assessed the risk of harm he presents. The board will also consider all relevant evidence of the prisoner’s risk of harm, and if my hon. Friend has such evidence I am sure it will be listened to closely. We will ensure that it is fully considered for inclusion in the dossier of reports given to the Parole Board.

Dart Charge estimates that there are at least nine unofficial web sites in operation. This is subject to change as websites are added, removed, changed or temporarily unavailable.

The number of individuals proceeded against and convicted of an assault against an emergency worker can be found at:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/802035/outcomes-by-offence-tool-2018.xlsx.

Filter by ‘Offence’ for:

`8.22 Assault against an emergency worker’.

This link also provides information on the average length of sentence (in months) given to those convicted of this offence.

It is not possible to obtain an estimate of the number of people who have received an increased sentence for an offence specified as aggravated under the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018. Detailed information may be held on individual court records but to be able to identify these cases we would have to access these individual court records which would be of disproportionate cost.

The number of individuals proceeded against and convicted of an assault against an emergency worker can be found at:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/802035/outcomes-by-offence-tool-2018.xlsx.

Filter by ‘Offence’ for:

`8.22 Assault against an emergency worker’.

This link also provides information on the average length of sentence (in months) given to those convicted of this offence.

It is not possible to obtain an estimate of the number of people who have received an increased sentence for an offence specified as aggravated under the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018. Detailed information may be held on individual court records but to be able to identify these cases we would have to access these individual court records which would be of disproportionate cost.

The number of individuals proceeded against and convicted of an assault against an emergency worker can be found at:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/802035/outcomes-by-offence-tool-2018.xlsx.

Filter by ‘Offence’ for:

`8.22 Assault against an emergency worker’.

This link also provides information on the average length of sentence (in months) given to those convicted of this offence.

It is not possible to obtain an estimate of the number of people who have received an increased sentence for an offence specified as aggravated under the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018. Detailed information may be held on individual court records but to be able to identify these cases we would have to access these individual court records which would be of disproportionate cost.

The number of individuals proceeded against and convicted of an assault against an emergency worker can be found at:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/802035/outcomes-by-offence-tool-2018.xlsx.

Filter by ‘Offence’ for:

`8.22 Assault against an emergency worker’.

This link also provides information on the average length of sentence (in months) given to those convicted of this offence.

It is not possible to obtain an estimate of the number of people who have received an increased sentence for an offence specified as aggravated under the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018. Detailed information may be held on individual court records but to be able to identify these cases we would have to access these individual court records which would be of disproportionate cost.

The Office of Rail and Road publishes annual Estimates of Station Usage, which provides the total number of entries & exits and interchanges for each station on Great Britain’s national rail network.

The latest publication for 2017-18 shows that there were estimated to be 1,961,528 entries & exits and 57,476 interchanges at Ebbsfleet International. This does not include passengers using the Eurostar services.

The full publication including more historic data can be found at:

https://orr.gov.uk/statistics/published-stats/station-usage-estimates

The Office of Rail and Road provides estimates of current passenger numbers including Ebbsfleet and these are available from the ORR website. The Department for Transport publishes guidance on forecasting demand growth in the future for stations on the network. This guidance is called ‘WebTAG’ and can be found on the Department’s website.

Patrick Mackay was convicted of three counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years in 1975. He became eligible for release at the end of that minimum term in March 1995. As a Life Sentenced Prisoner, Mr Mackay will only be released on direction from the Independent Parole Board when it is satisfied that the risk he poses can be managed safely in the community.

The Parole Board has reviewed Mr Mackay’s detention on 10 occasions since 1995. On each occasion the Parole Board has decided that his risk is too high to be safely managed in the community.

Mr Mackay’s case was most recently referred to the Parole Board in August 2018. His parole review is ongoing.

Patrick Mackay was convicted of three counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years in 1975. He became eligible for release at the end of that minimum term in March 1995. As a Life Sentenced Prisoner, Mr Mackay will only be released on direction from the Independent Parole Board when it is satisfied that the risk he poses can be managed safely in the community.

The Parole Board has reviewed Mr Mackay’s detention on 10 occasions since 1995. On each occasion the Parole Board has decided that his risk is too high to be safely managed in the community.

Mr Mackay’s case was most recently referred to the Parole Board in August 2018. His parole review is ongoing.

Patrick Mackay was convicted of three counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years in 1975. He became eligible for release at the end of that minimum term in March 1995. As a Life Sentenced Prisoner, Mr Mackay will only be released on direction from the Independent Parole Board when it is satisfied that the risk he poses can be managed safely in the community.

The Parole Board has reviewed Mr Mackay’s detention on 10 occasions since 1995. On each occasion the Parole Board has decided that his risk is too high to be safely managed in the community.

Mr Mackay’s case was most recently referred to the Parole Board in August 2018. His parole review is ongoing.

The bids for the next franchise continue to be evaluated. My Department wants to ensure that the franchise meets the needs of passengers and taxpayers and will provide an update in due course.

The Home Office publishes statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates issued by police forces in England and Wales under the Firearms Act 1968. This provides a useful account of the number of firearms that are lawfully owned. The latest figures on the number of firearm and shotguns on issue are available from tables 1 and 3 of the ‘Firearm and Shotgun Certificates in England and Wales Statistics - Financial Year 2017/18’ publication.

Data as at 31 March 2019, will be reported in the ‘Firearm and Shotgun Certificates in England and Wales Statistics - Financial Year 2018/19’ publication. This has been pre-announced on gov.uk to be released in June/July 2019.

In relation to illegal firearms, the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) and wider law enforcement regularly assess the volume of illegal firearms used in crime in the UK. NABIS produce quarterly reports on the threat, but their assessment is continuous and key information is shared amongst law enforcement on a real time basis. This information is operationally sensitive and not published.

Annual statistics on the number of firearm and shotgun certificates granted, renewed and revoked by police forces in Scotland are published by the Scottish Government. The figures are considered to be broadly comparable with those for England and Wales, due to the common legislation that governs the certification process.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland lists its statistical outputs on the Statistics page of its website, but there are no series that are directly compara-ble to those for England and Wales.

The Home Office publishes statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates issued by police forces in England and Wales under the Firearms Act 1968. This provides a useful account of the number of firearms that are lawfully owned. The latest figures on the number of firearm and shotguns on issue are available from tables 1 and 3 of the ‘Firearm and Shotgun Certificates in England and Wales Statistics - Financial Year 2017/18’ publication.

Data as at 31 March 2019, will be reported in the ‘Firearm and Shotgun Certificates in England and Wales Statistics - Financial Year 2018/19’ publication. This has been pre-announced on gov.uk to be released in June/July 2019.

In relation to illegal firearms, the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) and wider law enforcement regularly assess the volume of illegal firearms used in crime in the UK. NABIS produce quarterly reports on the threat, but their assessment is continuous and key information is shared amongst law enforcement on a real time basis. This information is operationally sensitive and not published.

Annual statistics on the number of firearm and shotgun certificates granted, renewed and revoked by police forces in Scotland are published by the Scottish Government. The figures are considered to be broadly comparable with those for England and Wales, due to the common legislation that governs the certification process.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland lists its statistical outputs on the Statistics page of its website, but there are no series that are directly compara-ble to those for England and Wales.

The Government’s Tobacco Control Plan for England commits Public Health England (PHE) to include in its quit smoking campaigns messages about e-cigarettes.

Since the publication of the Plan in July 2017, PHE’s annual Stoptober campaign has featured e-cigarettes as one of the evidence-based quitting support options for smokers, and the New Year smoking health harms awareness campaign has made clear the reduction in health risk when a smoker switches completely to vaping.

PHE encourages all local Stop Smoking Services in England to provide additional support to people who want to use an e-cigarette in their quit attempt to maximise their chance of success. The NHS Long Term Plan, published in January 2019, includes a new universal smoking cessation offer for long-term users of specialist mental health services, the option of switching to e-cigarettes while in inpatient settings.

The Government’s Tobacco Control Plan for England commits Public Health England (PHE) to include in its quit smoking campaigns messages about e-cigarettes.

Since the publication of the Plan in July 2017, PHE’s annual Stoptober campaign has featured e-cigarettes as one of the evidence-based quitting support options for smokers, and the New Year smoking health harms awareness campaign has made clear the reduction in health risk when a smoker switches completely to vaping.

PHE encourages all local Stop Smoking Services in England to provide additional support to people who want to use an e-cigarette in their quit attempt to maximise their chance of success. The NHS Long Term Plan, published in January 2019, includes a new universal smoking cessation offer for long-term users of specialist mental health services, the option of switching to e-cigarettes while in inpatient settings.

I absolutely agree that, carried out in the right way, stop-and-search is an effective tool for our police forces. We recognise the concern felt about violent crime—the hon. Gentleman has raised the specific issue of knife crime—which is why the Home Secretary published the serious violence strategy, and why we established the serious violence taskforce.

Let me reiterate that we want the police to use stop-and-search properly and lawfully. It is a vital and effective policing tool, but when they use it, we expect them to do so lawfully.