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1301872

registered interest
date	11/03/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Married People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of reducing the income threshold for spousal visa applications where one of the spouses has worked for the NHS during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey
tabling member printed	Drew Hendry
uin	167262
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2021 answer text <p>The Minimum Income Requirement is set at the level which prevents burdens on the taxpayer and promotes integration. We remain committed to those aims but have made relevant adjustments to support those affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. This includes those who have worked for the NHS during the pandemic. Further details are available here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents#</a>.</p><p>Many NHS workers and their dependants are also eligible for free visa extensions as set out on GOV.UK here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-health-worker-visa-extension" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-health-worker-visa-extension</a>.</p><p>The minimum income requirement has not increased since it was first introduced in July 2012 and there are no plans to reduce it.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 167263 167264 question first answered 16/03/2021 16:35:15 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4467 label Biography information for Drew Hendry

1301874

registered interest
date	11/03/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Married People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of whether the spouse visa income threshold should be reduced in the event that one of the spouses works in the NHS.
tabling member constituency	Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey
tabling member printed	Drew Hendry
uin	167263
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2021 answer text <p>The Minimum Income Requirement is set at the level which prevents burdens on the taxpayer and promotes integration. We remain committed to those aims but have made relevant adjustments to support those affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. This includes those who have worked for the NHS during the pandemic. Further details are available here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents#</a>.</p><p>Many NHS workers and their dependants are also eligible for free visa extensions as set out on GOV.UK here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-health-worker-visa-extension" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-health-worker-visa-extension</a>.</p><p>The minimum income requirement has not increased since it was first introduced in July 2012 and there are no plans to reduce it.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 167262 167264 question first answered 16/03/2021 16:35:15 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4467 label Biography information for Drew Hendry

1301878

registered interest
date	11/03/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Married People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has made of the ability of families to earn enough to meet the increased income threshold requirements for a spouse visa following the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey
tabling member printed	Drew Hendry
uin	167264
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2021 answer text <p>The Minimum Income Requirement is set at the level which prevents burdens on the taxpayer and promotes integration. We remain committed to those aims but have made relevant adjustments to support those affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. This includes those who have worked for the NHS during the pandemic. Further details are available here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents#</a>.</p><p>Many NHS workers and their dependants are also eligible for free visa extensions as set out on GOV.UK here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-health-worker-visa-extension" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-health-worker-visa-extension</a>.</p><p>The minimum income requirement has not increased since it was first introduced in July 2012 and there are no plans to reduce it.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 167262 167263 question first answered 16/03/2021 16:35:15 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4467 label Biography information for Drew Hendry

1301881

registered interest
date	11/03/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Metropolitan Police Service's Handling of Non-recent Sexual Offence Investigations Alleged against Persons of Public Prominence Independent Review
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to instruct all police forces in England to implement in full the recommendations of the Henriques Report, The Independent Review of the Metropolitan Police Service's handling of non-recent sexual offence investigations alleged against persons of public prominence, published in October 2019.
tabling member constituency	North Durham
tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
uin	167166
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2021 answer text <p>In 2016, as part of his Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) commissioned-review into the handling of a number of non-recent sexual offence investigations alleged against persons of public prominence, Sir Richard Henriques made a number of recommendations to the MPS. In October 2019, the Home Secretary asked Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire &amp; Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to assess the MPS’ progress in learning the lessons from Operation Midland, taking into account Sir Richard’s recommendations. HMICFRS reported in March 2020 and wrote to all Chief Constables to make them aware of their findings and recommendations where relevant to policing more widely. The Home Office will continue to seek assurances from the MPS, and all forces in England and Wales, that improvements are being made to ensure that the mistakes of Operation Midland cannot be repeated.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 16/03/2021 16:50:58 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

1301924

registered interest
date	11/03/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: Military Bases
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the publication of site inspection findings by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of waiving the 1 per cent threshold requirement for special grant funding for policing costs relating to the temporary asylum accommodation sites at Penally training camp and Napier barracks.
tabling member constituency	Ceredigion
tabling member printed	Ben Lake
uin	167289
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2021 answer text <p>All police forces should have reasonable contingency within their budgets for unplanned or unexpected events, but in some cases we recognise that these events may place force finances under additional pressure, and in those instances the Police and Crime Commissioner may apply for additional funding through the Police Special Grant. Any force applying for Special Grant funding must meet the criteria set out in the published guidance.</p><p>We continue to work closely with the local police forces at Penally training camp and Napier barracks, and have provided £2.5m of funding to Dyfed Powys and £1m to Kent police for costs incurred to date.</p><p>The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration announced an inspection of contingency asylum accommodation on 25 January 2021. The department acknowledges the ICIBI’s decision to publish on 8 March the initial findings from site visits to Napier Barracks and Penally. The ICIBI’s inspection continues and a full inspection report will follow. The duration of the inspection is a matter for the ICIBI and upon its conclusion, following standard procedure set out in the UK Borders Act 2007, the Department will issue a formal response alongside the inspection report as it is laid before Parliament and published on Gov.UK.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 16/03/2021 09:27:08 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4630 label Biography information for Ben Lake

1301989

registered interest
date	11/03/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Immigration
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Leave to Remain private life applications were processed within six months in (a) 2019 and (b) 2020.
tabling member constituency	Coventry North West
tabling member printed	Taiwo Owatemi
uin	167330
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2021 answer text <p>Private life is an element within Family and Private Life applications, which is collectively captured as part of the data referred to as “HR Complex” here;</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-protection-data-february-2021" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-protection-data-february-2021</a></p><p>Private Life is not recorded as a discrete category of application and therefore it is not possible to separate this element out.</p><p>We are unable to provide the number of Private Life applications processed within six months during 2019 and 2020 because to do so would result in publication of unassured data.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 16/03/2021 16:26:56 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4779 label Biography information for Taiwo Owatemi

1301263

registered interest
date	10/03/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Stalking: Sentencing
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 has made of the potential merits of increasing the length of custodial sentences for people who have committed stalking offences.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	166433
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2021 answer text <p>Stalking is a terrible, insidious crime that can have a devastating impact on victims’ wellbeing. This Government is committed to protecting and supporting victims and is determined to do everything we can to stop perpetrators at the earliest opportunity.</p><p>In 2012 the Government created two stalking offences to highlight stalking as a specific behaviour, and through the Policing and Crime Act 2017 the maximum sentences for both stalking and harassment were raised from 5 to 10 years’ imprisonment. There are currently no plans to make further changes to the maximum sentences for stalking offences. Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for our independent courts. When deciding what sentence to impose, within the maximum available for the offence, the courts take into account the circumstances of the offence and any aggravating and mitigating factors. The courts are also required to follow any relevant sentencing guidelines, developed by the independent Sentencing Council.</p><p>In January 2020 we introduced new civil Stalking Protection Orders to protect victims of stalking at the earliest possible opportunity and address the perpetrator’s behaviours before they become entrenched or escalate in severity. A breach of this order carries a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 15/03/2021 16:47:45 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1301501

registered interest
date	10/03/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: Staff
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many officials were employed with responsibility for examining and making decisions on asylum applications in December 2020.
tabling member constituency	Orkney and Shetland
tabling member printed	Mr Alistair Carmichael
uin	166336
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2021 answer text <p>The number of officials who were responsible for examining and making decisions on asylum applications in December 2020 is not recorded and held in a reportable format. To obtain this information would require detailed reporting against multiple cost centres and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.</p><p>However, the Home Office are able to provide the number of asylum case working staff for 2019/2020. This data can be found in ASY_04 of the published Transparency data:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-protection-data-February-2021%200" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-protection-data-February-2021</a></p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 15/03/2021 16:12:54 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	1442 label Biography information for Mr Alistair Carmichael

1300687

registered interest
date	09/03/2021
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of applicants who are unable to book a free biometric residence permit enrolment appointment; and what plans her Department has to increase the provision of those appointments.
tabling member constituency	Bristol West
tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
uin	165587
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2021 answer text <p>UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service (UKVCAS) centres are run by Sopra Steria Ltd (SSL) on behalf of UK Visas &amp; Immigration (UKVI).</p><p>The Home Office produces intake forecasts for immigration applications which are used to inform business and appointment capacity planning with SSL; forecasts vary across the year and our service is designed to respond and meet fluctuating demand. As part of UKVI’s ongoing operational forecasting activities we regularly review and refresh the number of applications we expect from all routes which in turn inform UKVCAS capacity planning.</p><p>Demand for appointments to enrol biometrics at a UKVCAS service point is not wholly predictable and is dependent on customer behaviour. All chargeable appointments are optional. Estimates of how many customers are unable to book a free appointment is not possible; many of our customers choose to book chargeable appointments for reasons of convenience, cost and time benefits which enhanced service points or out of hours appointments provide alongside additional services they are able to access within a chargeable appointment, such as document checking and scanning, which are not included with free appointments.</p><p>UKVCAS appointment levels have now returned to above the levels they were in March 2020, prior to COVID-19 disruption. Although UKVCAS are still currently experiencing very high demand for all appointments and the ongoing impact of measures to maintain COVID-secure facilities is limiting the ability to quickly expand capacity. Nevertheless, appointment capacity, including free appointment capacity will continue to increase over the coming months.</p><p>Work is ongoing with SSL not only to ensure enough free appointments are available, but also to ensure family groups have access to them, and access is fairly balanced across the four nations. SSL have successfully recently trialled the introduction of group booking slots at some of the core service points, including Cardiff which is the closest core site to Bristol, and are now in the process of increasing the number of group slots at other sites.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 12/03/2021 13:16:08 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1300697

registered interest
date	09/03/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: Hotels
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timescale is for the closure of initial asylum hotel accommodation; and what the timescale of the notice period will be for residents and local authorities to be notified of such closures.
tabling member constituency	Bristol West
tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
uin	165588
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2021 answer text <p>Increased asylum intake, alongside measures taken to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, has meant that the Home Office has had to deal with growing demand for asylum support and accommodation services.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that hotel accommodation, as a method to deal with increased intake and temporary COVID measures can only ever be a short-term solution to meet our immediate statutory need.</p><p> </p><p>We have set up a recovery programme to work with our accommodation providers to procure sufficient dispersed accommodation so that we can eliminate the use of hotel contingency accommodation. Our accommodation providers are also working to maximise procurement opportunities throughout the UK. However, we can only do that where Local Authorities agree to us procuring accommodation.</p><p> </p><p>We remain committed to working collaboratively with communities and stakeholders and are doing our utmost to ensure those affected by decisions regarding asylum accommodation are properly consulted, despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 16/03/2021 15:06:51 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire