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1457269

registered interest
date	14/04/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Seasonal Workers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people applied to the Government's temporary visa scheme for poultry workers, pork butchers or heavy goods vehicle drivers to transport food.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	Carla Lockhart
uin	154511
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2022 answer text <p>Paragraph 1.3.2 on the Gov.Uk page below provides the published statistics for HGV Drivers, Poultry Workers and Pork Butchers.</p><p><a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fstatistics%2Fimmigration-statistics-year-ending-december-2021%2Fwhy-do-people-come-to-the-uk-to-work&amp;data=05%7C01%7CVandCSheffield.PQandFOI%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7Ca3c5104ea12f461d4a7e08da27779d27%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C637865691923783490%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=56iPYlg6gpZSH%2F2ZwQqL6uadpqJ4T1ixwgXaPo%2FwwtU%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Why do people come to the UK? To work - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 27/04/2022 16:33:54 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster previous answer version 66198 answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4857 label Biography information for Carla Lockhart

1457300

registered interest
date	14/04/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Ukraine
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the total number of hours staff in her Department spent on processing visa applications for Ukrainian refugees during the weeks commencing (a) 7, (b) 14, (c) 21 and (d) 28 March 2022.
tabling member constituency	York Outer
tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
uin	153925
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2022 answer text <p>We have received thousands of applications submitted to one of the fastest and largest visa programmes in UK history.</p><p>We are committed to ensuring our operational teams have the resources they need to run an efficient and effective system. We actively monitor workflows to ensure sufficient resources are in place to meet caseworking demand of the Ukraine Family Scheme and the Homes for Ukraine Scheme which we have launched in response to the refugee crisis.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office and the commercial provider operating our Visa Application Centres have surged staff across Europe to meet demand and UKVI staff in the UK are working seven days a week to process applications.</p><p>To capture the detailed information on staff numbers and hours worked would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 153926 question first answered 26/04/2022 17:11:33 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1457301

registered interest
date	14/04/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Ukraine
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many full-time equivalent staff in her Department were processing visa applications for Ukrainian refugees during the weeks commencing (a) 7, (b) 14, (c) 21 and (d) 28 March 2022.
tabling member constituency	York Outer
tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
uin	153926
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2022 answer text <p>We have received thousands of applications submitted to one of the fastest and largest visa programmes in UK history.</p><p>We are committed to ensuring our operational teams have the resources they need to run an efficient and effective system. We actively monitor workflows to ensure sufficient resources are in place to meet caseworking demand of the Ukraine Family Scheme and the Homes for Ukraine Scheme which we have launched in response to the refugee crisis.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office and the commercial provider operating our Visa Application Centres have surged staff across Europe to meet demand and UKVI staff in the UK are working seven days a week to process applications.</p><p>To capture the detailed information on staff numbers and hours worked would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 153925 question first answered 26/04/2022 17:11:33 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1457302

registered interest
date	14/04/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Applications
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff were working in European visa centres during the weeks commencing (a) 7, (b) 14, (c) 21 and (d) 28 March 2022.
tabling member constituency	York Outer
tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
uin	153927
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2022 answer text <p>The number of staff working in the Visa Application Centres (VACs) in Europe, which are operated by TLS Contact on behalf of UKVI, is not publicly available. However, in response to the recent increased demand in some VACs neighbouring Ukraine, UKVI surged additional staff to help meet demand and support people through the process as quickly as possible and significantly increased the number of appointments available in those locations.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 27/04/2022 16:44:00 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster previous answer version 66195 answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1457303

registered interest
date	14/04/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Ukraine
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made changes to her Department's policy on overtime to assist with the processing of visas for Ukrainian refugees.
tabling member constituency	York Outer
tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
uin	153928
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2022 answer text <p>The opportunity to work overtime has been offered to all staff working on our Ukraine related schemes.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 26/04/2022 14:21:24 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1457305

registered interest
date	14/04/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Ukraine
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many visas for Ukrainian refugees approved have been approved each day since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
tabling member constituency	York Outer
tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
uin	153929
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2022 answer text <p><em>Information on the number of visas granted under the Ukraine Family Scheme and the Homes for Ukraine Scheme which were launched in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine can be found in our published data on the GOV.UK webpage: </em><a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fukraine-family-scheme-application-data%2Fukraine-family-scheme-and-ukraine-sponsorship-scheme-homes-for-ukraine-visa-data&amp;data=05%7C01%7CKeith.Edwards42%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C8ac61c5f8b3841c57e2a08da2387c659%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C637861363289461686%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=ytJc7a1AfuDBNSJZpuRFqNoIYhI7jsdbnm1Xa1R%2FZHE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank"><em>Ukraine Schemes: application data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</em></a><em>.</em></p><p><em>Statistical information </em><em>regarding the number of Ukrainian nationals applying for UK visas prior to the launch of the Ukraine Schemes is regularly released by the Home Office. The latest published statistics can be found here: </em><a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fstatistics%2Fimmigration-statistics-year-ending-december-2021&amp;data=05%7C01%7CKeith.Edwards42%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C8ac61c5f8b3841c57e2a08da2387c659%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C637861363289461686%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=zcavNmPB1EN7Pkd4RWfQbAsMgpMvkxhD48DCaRi1rgI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank"><em>Immigration statistics, year ending December 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</em></a></p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 26/04/2022 16:42:05 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1457312

registered interest
date	14/04/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Biometric Residence Permits and Work Permits
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) biometric residence cards, (b) biometric residence permits and (c) frontier working permits were issued in the last 12 months for which data is available.
tabling member constituency	Hackney South and Shoreditch
tabling member printed	Dame Meg Hillier
uin	153818
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2022 answer text <p>The information requested is not available in a reportable format.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 27/04/2022 16:37:40 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster previous answer version 66194 answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	1524 label Biography information for Dame Meg Hillier

1457404

registered interest
date	14/04/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: English Language
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the basis is for granting an exception to applicants from (a) Barbados, (b) Jamaica and (c) Trinidad and Tobago from a requirement to take International English Language Testing System exams for UK Visas and educational programmes; for what reason that exception does apply to applicants from Nigeria; how many Nigerians applied for the International English Language Testing System over the last five years; what the pass rate was in each of those years; and on what basis the charge for that test was calculated.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	153951
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2022 answer text <p>Those who come from a country which is on the Majority English Speaking Countries list (MESC list) are not required to provide evidence of English language ability.</p><p> </p><p>To be included on the MESC list, the Home Office must have evidence over half the population in the country being considered speaks English as a first language. If a country meets this criteria it means it is more likely than not any individual applicant from that country can speak English with the level of fluency required to integrate in the UK and complete the course they are coming to study or job they are coming to do.</p><p> </p><p>We do not have evidence that Nigeria meets this criteria. We regularly check whether new evidence is publicly available which shows a country meets the criteria to be included in the MESC list.</p><p> </p><p>As an alternative to language testing, applicants can also rely on other types of proof of their language ability:</p><ul><li>having met the requirement at the required level in a previous immigration application; or</li><li>holding a degree-level qualification which was taught in English; or</li><li>having their chosen university or other Higher Educational Institution self-certify their level of English ability if they are applying as a student; or</li><li>meeting the requirements for professional regulation as a doctor, dentist, nurse, midwife or veterinarian if they are sponsored as a skilled worker; or</li><li>having a GCSE, A-level, Scottish National Qualification at level 4 or 5 or, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher, in English following education at a UK school begun when they were under-18.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Information on how many Nigerians applied for the International English Language Testing System over the last five years and what the pass rate was in each of those years is not information held by the Home Office.</p><p> </p><p>The fee for the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) test is set by the relevant SELT Provider. To allow for a fair pricing system, the SELT Provider is required to ensure that customers are being charged a comparable fee for the same or similar test. Once set, any increases to the fee can only be made with the agreement of the Home Office.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 21/04/2022 10:50:47 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster previous answer version 64207 answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1457405

registered interest
date	14/04/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Nigeria: English Language
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information the Simplification of Rules Taskforce office used to reach the decision that Nigeria was not to be included in the Majority English Speaking Countries list.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	153952
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2022 answer text <p>To be included on the Majority English Speaking Countries list (MESC list), the Home Office must have evidence over half the population in the country in question speaks English as a first language.</p><p> </p><p>If a country meets this criteria, it means it is more likely than not any individual applicant from that country can speak English with the level of fluency required to integrate in the UK and complete the course they are coming to study, or the job they are coming to do without them having to provide further evidence.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Evidence we look for includes census data and official statistics. Academic studies, data on literacy, languages in which schooling or university courses are taught, and evidence of languages spoken in the home are helpful, but not definitive.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 26/04/2022 13:53:17 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1457413

registered interest
date	14/04/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Afghanistan
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress her Department has made in progressing Afghanistan related cases, in the context of the UK co-hosting the United Nation’s pledging summit on Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Margaret Ferrier
uin	154000
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2022 answer text <p>It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 28/04/2022 11:01:27 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster previous answer version 66201 answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4386 label Biography information for Margaret Ferrier