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1464228

registered interest
date	18/05/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Passports: Applications
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent progress her Department has made on clearing the backlog of passport applications; and whether she plans to make additional staff available to HM Passport Office to speed up processing times.
tabling member constituency	East Dunbartonshire
tabling member printed	Amy Callaghan
uin	4697
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2022 answer text <p>Ahead of unrestricted international travel returning, HM Passport Office prepared extensively to serve an unprecedented number of customers, with 9.5 million British passport applications forecasted throughout 2022.</p><p>These preparations, which include the recruitment of 500 additional staff since April 2021 and with plans in place to recruit a further 700 by this summer, have ensured that passport applications can be processed in higher numbers than ever before. This was demonstrated in March and April 2022 when HM Passport Office achieved a record monthly high by completing the processing of approximately two million applications.</p><p>Ministers continue to meet regularly with officials to monitor performance, and to explore further options that will help to ensure that people receive their passports in good time.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 26/05/2022 09:52:57 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster previous answer version 2241 answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4770 label Biography information for Amy Callaghan

1454841

registered interest
date	28/03/2022
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 Ukrainians on a seasonal work visa as of 28 March 2022 will have the same access to Government support schemes intended for Ukrainian refugees.
tabling member constituency	East Dunbartonshire
tabling member printed	Amy Callaghan
uin	148394
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/04/2022 answer text <p>Ukrainians who are in the UK under the Seasonal Worker route are able to have their visa extended until 31 December 2022.</p><p> </p><p>Ukrainian seasonal workers who are an immediate or extended family member of a person in the UK who is a British citizen, settled in the UK, or who has certain types of limited leave may be eligible under the Ukraine Family Scheme if they were resident in Ukraine immediately before 1 January 2022. Full details of which can be found here: Apply for a Ukraine Family Scheme visa - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</p><p> </p><p>Ukrainian nationals who had permission to stay in the UK on 18 March 2022 (or those whose visa has recently expired) will be able to stay in the UK under the Ukraine Extension Scheme. Eligibility for permission to stay will include those who were in the UK before 18 March as seasonal workers.</p><p> </p><p>The Seasonal Worker route remains open to all nationalities wishing to take up work in the horticulture sector.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 05/04/2022 14:42:09 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4770 label Biography information for Amy Callaghan

1438909

registered interest
date	08/03/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Immigration: EU Countries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she had made of the impact of surging decision makers and staff from other Government departments to tackle the influx of applications from Ukraine on processing times for EU Settlement Scheme travel permits from other EU countries.
tabling member constituency	East Dunbartonshire
tabling member printed	Amy Callaghan
uin	136668
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2022 answer text <p>While the Home Office’s priority is on supporting individuals affected by the war in Ukraine, routine work continues on other visa routes, including the EU Settlement Scheme</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 23/03/2022 12:45:48 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster previous answer version 57357 answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4770 label Biography information for Amy Callaghan

1438910

registered interest
date	08/03/2022
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 additional support staff she plans to deploy at visa application centres in countries bordering Ukraine to support people and families of UK nationals with the visa application process.
tabling member constituency	East Dunbartonshire
tabling member printed	Amy Callaghan
uin	136669
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2022 answer text <p>We are committed to ensuring our operational teams have the resources they need to run an efficient and effective system, and we actively monitor workflows to ensure sufficient resources are in place to meet demand, including from pressures relating to Ukraine.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Home Office and the commercial provider operating our Visa Application Centres have surged staff across Europe to meet demand, where we can offer over 13,000 appointments to visa applicants, and UKVI staff in the UK are working seven days a week to process applications.</p><p>As part of the Home Office’s commitment to make it easier for applicants to apply to our schemes, since 15 March Ukrainians with valid passports no longer need to go to a Visa Application Centre to give their biometrics before they come to the UK.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 31/03/2022 16:53:15 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4770 label Biography information for Amy Callaghan

1438911

registered interest
date	08/03/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Immigration: EU Countries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department's service delivery standard is for EU Settlement Scheme travel permits; and whether her Department has plans to expedite urgent applications.
tabling member constituency	East Dunbartonshire
tabling member printed	Amy Callaghan
uin	136670
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2022 answer text <p>The published service standards for EEA and EUSS family permits and travel permits can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-decision-waiting-times-applications-outside-the-uk" target="_blank">Visa decision waiting times: applications outside the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></p><p> </p><p>Which states:</p><p>You should get a decision within 3 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you hold settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and are applying for an <a href="https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families" target="_blank">EU Settlement Scheme travel permit</a> to travel to the UK to replace a lost or stolen residence card.</p><p> </p><p>Decisions are made in accordance with this service standard where possible.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 23/03/2022 12:47:58 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4770 label Biography information for Amy Callaghan

1438912

registered interest
date	08/03/2022
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 the UK Government is sending additional decision makers to Warsaw, Poland to deal with the backlog of visa applications in the wake of the Ukrainian refugee crisis; and what the current estimated waiting times are for processing applications from VAC in Poland.
tabling member constituency	East Dunbartonshire
tabling member printed	Amy Callaghan
uin	136671
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2022 answer text <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 demand, including from pressures relating to Ukraine.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Home Office and the commercial provider operating our Visa Application Centres have surged staff across Europe to meet demand, where we can offer over 13,000 appointments to visa applicants, and UKVI staff in the UK are working seven days a week to process applications.</p><p>The Home Office continues to monitor its overall caseworking capacity for Ukrainian cases, including redeploying staff from other business areas or other Government Departments.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 31/03/2022 16:38:08 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4770 label Biography information for Amy Callaghan

1438330

registered interest
date	07/03/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Refugees: Resettlement
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to introduce a longer-term global resettlement programme for refugees who wish to come to the UK.
tabling member constituency	East Dunbartonshire
tabling member printed	Amy Callaghan
uin	135666
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2022 answer text <p><em>The UK has a long history of supporting refugees in need of protection. </em><em>The UK continues to welcome vulnerable people through the existing global UK Resettlement Scheme, Mandate Resettlement Scheme, Community Sponsorship Scheme and Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme.</em></p><p><em>Since 2015, we have resettled more than 27,000 refugees through safe and legal routes direct from regions of conflict and instability; around half of whom were children.</em></p><p><em>In response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the Home Office made several changes to the immigration system, including launching the Ukraine Family Scheme.</em></p><p><em>In addition, we are e</em><em>stablishing a humanitarian sponsorship pathway,</em> <em>led by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whereby Ukrainians who may not have family ties in the UK can be sponsored to come to the UK by willing and able individuals, businesses, or community organisations. There will be no numerical limit on this scheme, and we will welcome as many Ukrainians as wish to come and have matched sponsors.</em></p><p><em>Resettlement is only one strand of our international efforts helping refugees. It is complemented by the UK’s significant humanitarian aid programme and diplomatic efforts. We believe this approach is the best way to ensure the UK’s help has the greatest impact for the majority of refugees.</em></p><p><em>More information on existing resettlement schemes can be found in the published guidance </em><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/resettlement-policy-statement" target="_blank"><em>Resettlement: policy guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme" target="_blank"><em>Afghan citizens resettlement scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</em></a></p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 15/03/2022 17:41:45 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4770 label Biography information for Amy Callaghan

1418341

registered interest
date	31/01/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Passports: Photographs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on passport photographs from people with white hair on a white background not being accepted; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing a default pastel background in passport photographs.
tabling member constituency	East Dunbartonshire
tabling member printed	Amy Callaghan
uin	114939
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2022 answer text <p>Her Majesty’s Passport Office does not hold information on passport photographs from people with white hair on a white background not being accepted within the examination process.</p><p>HM Passport Office provides clear guidance on photo standards, which includes advice for taking digital passport photographs using a ‘plain light-coloured background’ and for paper photograph using a ‘plain cream or light grey background'. This guidance is available on GOV.UK<br></p><p><a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fphotos-for-passports&amp;data=04%7C01%7CIPSPQs%40hmpo.gov.uk%7Cdf4c0ba18ae34f319a4a08d9e57e8194%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C637793153757354994%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;sdata=HGUakObAeyZERaBEZxbC6j6Ah8W6TGWhqNZeHqQXOm4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Get a passport photo - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></p><p><a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fphotos-for-passports%2Fphoto-requirements&amp;data=04%7C01%7CIPSPQs%40hmpo.gov.uk%7Cdf4c0ba18ae34f319a4a08d9e57e8194%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C637793153757354994%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;sdata=co4%2FPuNTrQp2eX%2BqRkETNU1nbA38Gd0uuTYAWsX%2Fuxo%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Get a passport photo: Printed photos - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 07/02/2022 16:39:41 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4770 label Biography information for Amy Callaghan

1190174

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Migrant Workers: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will allow people who have the ability to work on their current visa but have no access to public funds to be temporarily granted access to public funds for income during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	East Dunbartonshire
tabling member printed	Amy Callaghan
uin	39761
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2020 answer text <p>The Home Office is working closely with other government departments to support people, including migrants with no recourse to public funds, through this crisis. We are taking a compassionate and pragmatic approach to an unprecedented situation are continually reviewing to consider what more can be done.</p><p>Migrants with leave under the Family and Human Rights routes can apply to have the NRPF restriction lifted by making a ‘change of conditions’ application if there has been a change in their financial circumstances. The Home Office has recently digitised the application form to make sure it is accessible for those who need to remain at home, and I can assure you that the applications are being dealt with swiftly and compassionately.</p><p>Many of the wide-ranging Covid-19 measures the government has put in place are not public funds and therefore are available to migrants with no recourse to public funds (NRPF). The Coronavirus job retention scheme, self-employment income support and statutory sick pay are not classed as public funds for immigration purposes. Contribution-based benefits are also not classed as public funds for immigration purposes. Similarly, the support the Government is providing to the rented sector and in respect of mortgages is available to all regardless of their immigration status.</p><p>In addition, the Government has made in excess of £3.2bn of funding available to local authorities in England and additional funding under the Barnett formula to the devolved administrations to enable them to respond to Covid-19 pressures across all the services they deliver, including services helping the most vulnerable.</p><p>More information on the support available to migrants, including those with NRPF, can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-get-support-if-youre-a-migrant-living-in-the-uk" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-get-support-if-youre-a-migrant-living-in-the-uk</a>.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 13/05/2020 14:42:28 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4770 label Biography information for Amy Callaghan

1140839

registered interest
date	22/07/2019
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Immigration: EU Nationals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many EU citizens (a) have been and (b) will be prevented from obtaining settled status due to the technical inability of the settlement scheme app to convert pre-settled status into settled status.
tabling member constituency	East Dunbartonshire
tabling member printed	Jo Swinson
uin	280173
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2019 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">The UK has a proud history of providing protection to those who need it. Each case is carefully considered on its individual facts and merits in accordance with our international obligations under the Refugee Convention and European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">Each individual assessment is made against the background of the latest available country of origin information and any relevant caselaw.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">Our assessment of the situation in Sudan is set out in the relevant country policy and information notes, which are available on the Gov.uk website.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">Where someone establishes a well-founded fear of persecution or serious harm in their country they are normally granted protection and are not expected to return there.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">No EU citizens have been or will be prevented from obtaining settled status due to the technical inability of the EU Settlement Scheme app to convert pre-settled status to settled status. The online process which will allow an applicant to convert their pre-settled status to settled status is on track to be available from the end of July 2019. Currently, applicants who have obtained pre-settled status can make a fresh application to the scheme by contacting the Settlement Resolution Centre.</ins></p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 25/07/2019 15:38:07 question first ministerially corrected 26/07/2019 12:01:28 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes previous answer version 131307 answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
tabling member	1513 label Biography information for Jo Swinson