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100664

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Overseas Students
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his policy is on excluding foreign university students from net immigration targets.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	211742
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>Net migration statistics are produced by the independent Office for National Statistics (ONS). In line with the internationally agreed UN definition, these statistics define a migrant as someone changing their normal place of residence for more than a year. This includes students in net migration in the same way as other migrants. Other countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand also include students in their net migration figures. <br><br>Net migration measures the difference between the number of peoplecoming the UK and the number leaving, so if students return home after<br>their studies, their impact on long-term net migration will be minimal. The ONS has recently improved its methodology so that it is possible to<br>better identify students in the emigration flows to give a more accurate measure of the contribution of students to overall net migration.In the last year, 124,000 non-EU students came to Britain to stay for more than 12 months, and the ONS estimates that only 50,000 left the country. <br><br>All migrants who are in the UK for 12 months or more have an impact on our communities, infrastructure and public services. Changing the way we measure migration would not make any difference to our student migration policy. There is no cap on the number of students who can come to the UK, and the county remains open to the brightest and the best.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 05/11/2014 14:46:23 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

431749

	registered interest
	date	23/11/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Offenders: Deportation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of foreign nationals convicted of a crime in the UK were deported to their country of origin in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	17388
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2015 answer text <p>The following table shows the number of Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) who have been convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to a period of imprisonment and subsequently referred to Immigration Enforcement for consideration of removal action.</p><p>Whilst we aim to deport foreign national offenders at the earliest opportunity not all of those referred to the Home Office will meet the deportation threshold, some may later be confirmed as British or exempt from Immigration Control and some will be successful at appeal. Removal may also be delayed as some offenders will repeatedly refuse to comply with the deportation and documentation process, deliberately seek to flout the system to disrupt our efforts to deport them or attempt to lodge multiple appeals. Factors such as these can lead to deportation being delayed.</p><p>In May 2013, a new system was introduced for recording and monitoring all FNO referrals, even where an offender did not meet the deportation threshold. Prior to this, referrals of those who did not meet deportation criteria were not routed through a central system so this data was not centrally recorded. The introduction of this system therefore shows an increase in the referral numbers from 2012/13 onwards.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Financial year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of referrals to Immigration Enforcement</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of removals</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010/11</p></td><td><p>6,452</p></td><td><p>5,367</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011/12</p></td><td><p>7,326</p></td><td><p>4,539</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012/13</p></td><td><p>6,874</p></td><td><p>4,720</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013/14</p></td><td><p>10,786</p></td><td><p>5,118</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014/15</p></td><td><p>10,461</p></td><td><p>5,277</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015/16 (to Sept 2015)</p></td><td><p>5,262</p></td><td><p>2,855</p></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The National Offender Management Service operate on a nationality self declaration basis, which means that not all those referred for action will be in scope for removal. Some offenders may later be confirmed as British nationals or exempt from immigration control.</p><p>The removals shown are not a representative proportion of those referred in the same period. Those referred will not always be removable in the same year due to sentence length. The removals data will include those who have been referred prior to the period shown in the table.</p><p>Please note that figures prior to the 2011/12 financial year precede the implementation of a later reporting application and as such were not subject to the same level of data assurance for data recorded after 2011/12.</p><br /> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 16/12/2015 17:40:17 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

44784

	registered interest
	date	24/03/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	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 contribution of the (a) Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa route and (b) Tier 1 (Investor) visa route on economic growth.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	193286
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) advises the Government on economic issues relating to migration.<br><br>On 1 July 2013 the MAC published a &quot;Report on the economic and labour market impacts of tier 1 entrepreneur and investor migrants to the UK&quot; which it had commissioned from the Migration Observatory. The report made a number of findings, although it concluded that it was too early to make a full assessment of the economic contribution of the two routes without further research. The report is available on the gov.uk website at:<br><br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/economic-and-labour-market-impacts-tier-1-entrepreneur-and-investor-migrants" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/economic-and-labour-market-impacts-tier-1-entrepreneur-and-investor-migrants</a><br><br>More recently, on 25 February 2014 the MAC published its own report, &quot;Tier 1 (Investor) route: investment thresholds and economic benefits&quot; in response to a Government commission. The MAC concluded that the direct investment required by the route is of little or no benefit, but there is some benefit from indirect spending by investors and their families in the UK (although this is difficult to quantify). The report is available on the gov.uk website at:<br><br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-investment-limits-and-economic-benefits-of-the-tier-1-investor-route-feb-2014" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-investment-limits-and-economic-benefits-of-the-tier-1-investor-route-feb-2014</a><br><br>The Government keeps all routes under review and is currently considering its response to the MAC's report on the Tier 1 (Investor) route.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

50013

	registered interest
	date	06/05/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has received on extending the list of investment products that individuals can use to qualify for a Tier 1 (Investor) visa.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	197735
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Home Office has had meetings with a number of immigration law firms who <br>represent Tier 1 (Investor) clients in which these issues have been raised. <br>The firms consider that removing the requirement to top up investments, and <br>extending the list of qualifying investments, would attract more investors to <br>the UK and encourage investments which would lead to greater returns.<br><br>The Government is currently considering its response to the report on the Tier <br>1 (Investor) route published by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) on 25 <br>February 2014, which made recommendations on these issues. We will announce <br>our decisions in due course.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 197733 question first answered 13/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

50014

	registered interest
	date	06/05/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has received on removing the requirement to top up investments held by individuals on Tier 1 (Investor) visas.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	197733
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Home Office has had meetings with a number of immigration law firms who <br>represent Tier 1 (Investor) clients in which these issues have been raised. <br>The firms consider that removing the requirement to top up investments, and <br>extending the list of qualifying investments, would attract more investors to <br>the UK and encourage investments which would lead to greater returns.<br><br>The Government is currently considering its response to the report on the Tier <br>1 (Investor) route published by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) on 25 <br>February 2014, which made recommendations on these issues. We will announce <br>our decisions in due course.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 197735 question first answered 13/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

524769

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Religious Freedom
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that asylum caseworkers are trained to assess the claims of people who are seeking asylum on the grounds of persecution relating to religion or belief.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	40359
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2016 answer text <p>The Home Office carefully considers all asylum claims on their individual merits, including claims based on religious persecution. We grant protection to those who genuinely need it in accordance with our international obligations under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).</p><p>Published guidance on the interviewing and consideration of asylum claims is regularly reviewed and takes into consideration the views of stakeholders, including religious groups. The current training and support available for asylum caseworkers includes a UNHCR endorsed Foundation Training Programme. This, and follow-on courses, covers all aspects of the asylum interview and decision making process, including the assessment of credibility and country information in religious based claims. Real-life case studies and role-play are used throughout the training programme to reinforce knowledge and understanding of the issues.</p><p>We are currently carefully considering the APPG report and it's recommendations and will provide a response in due course.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 40369 question first answered 27/06/2016 13:53:56 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

524770

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Religious Freedom
	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 implications to her policies of the findings of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on International Freedom of Religion or Belief's report entitled, Fleeing Persecution: Asylum Claims in the UK on Religious Freedom Grounds, published in June 2016; and what plans she has to implement the recommendations of that report.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	40369
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2016 answer text <p>The Home Office carefully considers all asylum claims on their individual merits, including claims based on religious persecution. We grant protection to those who genuinely need it in accordance with our international obligations under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).</p><p>Published guidance on the interviewing and consideration of asylum claims is regularly reviewed and takes into consideration the views of stakeholders, including religious groups. The current training and support available for asylum caseworkers includes a UNHCR endorsed Foundation Training Programme. This, and follow-on courses, covers all aspects of the asylum interview and decision making process, including the assessment of credibility and country information in religious based claims. Real-life case studies and role-play are used throughout the training programme to reinforce knowledge and understanding of the issues.</p><p>We are currently carefully considering the APPG report and it's recommendations and will provide a response in due course.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 40359 question first answered 27/06/2016 13:53:56 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

789385

	registered interest
	date	07/11/2017
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Northern Ireland Government
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress has been made on restoring devolved government in Northern Ireland.
	tabling member constituency	Havant
	tabling member printed	Alan Mak
	uin	901702
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2017 answer text <p>The Government remains committed to the restoration of devolved Government in Northern Ireland. I have been working closely with the parties towards this objective since March. There remain a small number of differences, particularly around language and culture and sustainability of the Executive, which the parties are continuing to discuss with the support of the UK Government and, as appropriate, the Irish Government.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 15/11/2017 14:09:36 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4484 label Biography information for Alan Mak

156598

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) target and (b) actual average waiting time for asylum seekers to receive an appointment for an initial screening interview is.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	215259
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/11/2014 answer text <p>The Home Office has an internal target of 10 days from the initial point of contact to the point the applicant attends the unit. This was introduced at the start of the current financial year.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 25/11/2014 16:16:18 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

168982

	registered interest
	date	09/12/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2014 to Question 215259, for what reason that Answer did not refer to the actual average waiting time for asylum seekers to receive an appointment for an initial screening interview; and if she will provide that information.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	217808
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>The Home Office has an internal target of 10 days from the initial point of contact to the point the customer attends the unit. This was introduced at the start of the current financial year and we have remained within that target for <br>the year to date.<br><br>The current average time an asylum seeker waits before attending an appointment is 10 days. This data has been derived from internal management information and should therefore be treated as provisional and subject to change. This <br>information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols. This figure relates to appointments made between 1st June 2013 and 31st May 2014.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 15/12/2014 12:23:26 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

224756

	registered interest
	date	03/03/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria are used for determining to which areas asylum seekers are dispersed.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	226000
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/03/2015 answer text <p>The last Labour Government passed the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to <br>alleviate the pressure on local authorities in London and the South East of <br>England where most asylum seekers made their asylum claims. <br><br>The effect of the 1999 Act was to pass the support responsibility to the Home <br>Office. Regional dispersal policy established by the then Home Secretary in <br>2000 provides that, as a general rule, asylum seekers should be accommodated in <br>areas where there is a greater supply of suitable and cheaper accommodation.<br><br>Asylum seekers who need accommodation are housed across the UK <br>according to an agreed ratio, based on various regional factors. The Home <br>Office has voluntary agreements with 95 local authorities throughout the United <br>Kingdom in accepting the dispersal of asylum seekers. As part of the regional <br>dispersal policy established in 2000 an advisory cluster limit was set by the <br>Home Office at 1 asylum seeker for every 200 of the settled population.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 06/03/2015 14:07:48 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire previous answer version 48248 answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

224757

	registered interest
	date	03/03/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers have been dispersed to each region in each of the last six months.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	226001
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/03/2015 answer text <p>The dispersal policy for asylum seekers was set out by the last Labour Government in the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.<br><br>Quarterly published data is only available up to December 2014 which is accessible via the link below: <br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-october-to-december-2014-data-tables" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-october-to-december-2014-data-tables</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 10/03/2015 15:04:19 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire previous answer version 48234 answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

224758

	registered interest
	date	03/03/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Stockton on Tees
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much the Government is paying private landlords to house asylum seekers in Stockton-on-Tees local authority area.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	226002
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/03/2015 answer text <p>The Government does not pay private landlords for accommodating asylum seekers <br>as there is no direct contractual relationship between the Home Office and <br>private landlords. Accommodation is provided through third party accommodation <br>providers under the COMPASS contracts. Accommodation in the Stockton-on-Tees <br>area is provided via a contract with G4S and the associated costs are regarded <br>as being commercially sensitive and are not available for disclosure.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 06/03/2015 14:07:30 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire previous answer version 48249 answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

224759

	registered interest
	date	03/03/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional funding has been provided to local authorities, schools and the NHS to fund costs relating to asylum seekers in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	226003
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/03/2015 answer text <p>The Government has a legal obligation to provide support to asylum applicants who would otherwise be destitute. Support is provided in form of subsistence allowance and accommodation. The Government provides funding for Strategy Migration Partnerships which act as a focal point for all local authorities in the relevant region to consider and resolve any issues relating to dispersals and migration. The funding for 2014/15 was £1.325 million.<br><br>The Government also provides additional funding to local authorities to support Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children, those leaving care and asylum seekers who are turning 18. The total funding for these in 2013/14 financial year was £77.2 million. Cost from 2014/15 are yet to be audited and unpublished.<br><br>Information for any extra funding for health and education will be available from the Department of Health and Department for Education respectively.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 10/03/2015 15:05:12 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire previous answer version 48235 answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

229389

	registered interest
	date	24/03/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum
	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 capability of each local authority to accommodate the number of asylum seekers dispersed to those areas.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	228878
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2015 answer text <p>Agreements between the Government and local authorities are voluntary and have been in place since the last Government set them up in 2000. Accommodation providers are contractually required to liaise and consult with local authorities to ensure that the impacts of dispersal have been fully assessed. Providers will take into account the cultural compatibility of the environment; capacity of local health, education and other support services; concentration of service users; and the assessment of social tension risks.<br><br>This work is formally supported through Strategic Migration Partnerships; local authority-led partnerships with the Home Office and accommodation providers, established as a forum for managing the dispersal of asylum seekers to local authorities.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 26/03/2015 10:22:54 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

447029

	registered interest
	date	22/01/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Refugees: Syria
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the implications for her policies are of the decision by other countries to confiscate the belongings of Syrian refugees over a certain value to meet the costs of their stay.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	23729
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2016 answer text <p>Any decision by other countries to confiscate the belongings of Syrian refugees over a certain value to meet the cost of their stay in those countries will not impact the way the UK deals with Syrian refugees. The Government will continue to target the most vulnerable Syrians, who cannot be supported effectively in the region, for resettlement under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme. The first 12 month’s resettlement costs are funded through Official Development Assistance and at the Spending Review the Government committed £129 million to assist with local authority costs over years 2-5 of the scheme.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 28/01/2016 15:57:47 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire previous answer version 41426 answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

449996

	registered interest
	date	02/02/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Refugees: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to assist unaccompanied child refugees in Europe.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	25520
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2016 answer text <p>Unaccompanied children in other EU countries should be able to access the support needed in those countries. The European countries in which they arrive have international obligations and a duty to provide adequate protection and support to refugees within their territory.</p><p>We are working closely with UN agencies, NGOs and the Member States involved to ensure that protection is provided. We will provide further resources to the European Asylum Support Office to help in border “hotspots” in Greece and Italy to help identify and register children at risk on first arrival in the EU.</p><p>The Government remains concerned about the needs of vulnerable children on the move in Europe and the Balkans, and the needs of those who become stranded along the route. The UK has therefore increased its aid to refugees and migrants, including children, in Europe and the Balkans to £46 million, divided among the most affected countries and including specific support of £2.75 million to UNICEF, which will benefit 27,000 children. In addition, the Department for International Development (DFID) is creating a new fund of up to £10 million to support the needs of vulnerable refugee and migrant children in Europe, the Refugee Children Fund for Europe.</p><p>This will include targeted support to meet the specific needs of unaccompanied and separated children who face additional risks. The support will be delivered through a range of UN agencies and NGOs. Unaccompanied children that have a close family link to the UK and claim asylum in another EU country may be entitled to be transferred to the UK under the family unity provisions of the Dublin Regulation. We want to ensure we reunite children with any close family in the UK as quickly and as safely as possible, and we work closely with EU partners on this issue.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 25521 25522 question first answered 08/02/2016 17:30:10 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

449997

	registered interest
	date	02/02/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Refugees: Children
	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 implications for her policies of reports by the Chief of Staff of Europol that 10,000 unaccompanied child refugees may have disappeared in Europe in 2015.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	25521
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2016 answer text <p>Unaccompanied children in other EU countries should be able to access the support needed in those countries. The European countries in which they arrive have international obligations and a duty to provide adequate protection and support to refugees within their territory.</p><p>We are working closely with UN agencies, NGOs and the Member States involved to ensure that protection is provided. We will provide further resources to the European Asylum Support Office to help in border “hotspots” in Greece and Italy to help identify and register children at risk on first arrival in the EU.</p><p>The Government remains concerned about the needs of vulnerable children on the move in Europe and the Balkans, and the needs of those who become stranded along the route. The UK has therefore increased its aid to refugees and migrants, including children, in Europe and the Balkans to £46 million, divided among the most affected countries and including specific support of £2.75 million to UNICEF, which will benefit 27,000 children. In addition, the Department for International Development (DFID) is creating a new fund of up to £10 million to support the needs of vulnerable refugee and migrant children in Europe, the Refugee Children Fund for Europe.</p><p>This will include targeted support to meet the specific needs of unaccompanied and separated children who face additional risks. The support will be delivered through a range of UN agencies and NGOs. Unaccompanied children that have a close family link to the UK and claim asylum in another EU country may be entitled to be transferred to the UK under the family unity provisions of the Dublin Regulation. We want to ensure we reunite children with any close family in the UK as quickly and as safely as possible, and we work closely with EU partners on this issue.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 25520 25522 question first answered 08/02/2016 17:30:11 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

449998

	registered interest
	date	02/02/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Refugees: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reunite lone refugee children in mainland Europe with family members in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	25522
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2016 answer text <p>Unaccompanied children in other EU countries should be able to access the support needed in those countries. The European countries in which they arrive have international obligations and a duty to provide adequate protection and support to refugees within their territory.</p><p>We are working closely with UN agencies, NGOs and the Member States involved to ensure that protection is provided. We will provide further resources to the European Asylum Support Office to help in border “hotspots” in Greece and Italy to help identify and register children at risk on first arrival in the EU.</p><p>The Government remains concerned about the needs of vulnerable children on the move in Europe and the Balkans, and the needs of those who become stranded along the route. The UK has therefore increased its aid to refugees and migrants, including children, in Europe and the Balkans to £46 million, divided among the most affected countries and including specific support of £2.75 million to UNICEF, which will benefit 27,000 children. In addition, the Department for International Development (DFID) is creating a new fund of up to £10 million to support the needs of vulnerable refugee and migrant children in Europe, the Refugee Children Fund for Europe.</p><p>This will include targeted support to meet the specific needs of unaccompanied and separated children who face additional risks. The support will be delivered through a range of UN agencies and NGOs. Unaccompanied children that have a close family link to the UK and claim asylum in another EU country may be entitled to be transferred to the UK under the family unity provisions of the Dublin Regulation. We want to ensure we reunite children with any close family in the UK as quickly and as safely as possible, and we work closely with EU partners on this issue.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 25520 25521 question first answered 08/02/2016 17:30:11 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

454882

	registered interest
	date	24/02/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Refugees: Syria
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2016 to Question 23729, what the Government's policy is on the confiscation of the belongings of Syrian refugees over a certain value to help meet the cost of their stay in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	28181
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2016 answer text <p>The Government does not confiscate the belongings of Syrian refugees or refugees of any other nationality to help meet the cost of their stay in the UK.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 01/03/2016 16:43:27 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

522169

	registered interest
	date	26/05/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Compass Contracts: Tees Valley
	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 oral contribution of the Minister for Immigration of 20 January 2016, Official Report, columns 1425-30, whether there is no predominant colour for the front doors of properties used to house asylum seekers in Teesside.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	38900
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2016 answer text <p>The provision of accommodation for asylum seekers is provided under the COMPASS contracts. It is the responsibility of all of the suppliers to ensure that all accommodation used meets the required contractual standard and complies with the Decent Homes Standards. The accommodation should be safe, habitable and fit for purpose. The COMPASS providers are required to inspect properties each month and UKVI's contract compliance teams reinforce this by visiting properties regularly.</p><p>The Home Office expects the highest standards and where a contractor is found to be falling short of these standards we work with them to ensure that issues are quickly addressed.</p><p>Earlier this year, we instructed our supplier (G4S) to repaint the doors of G4S and Jomast managed properties to ensure that no one colour is predominant. I have received confirmation from the Provider that this had been completed, UKVI staff have also confirmed that no one colour is predominant as they have visited properties as part of their inspection regime.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 38728 38730 question first answered 06/06/2016 12:44:19 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

522182

	registered interest
	date	26/05/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Compass Contracts: Tees Valley
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to ensure (a) compliance with and (b) appropriate implementation of COMPASS contracts in Teeside.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	38728
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2016 answer text <p>The provision of accommodation for asylum seekers is provided under the COMPASS contracts. It is the responsibility of all of the suppliers to ensure that all accommodation used meets the required contractual standard and complies with the Decent Homes Standards. The accommodation should be safe, habitable and fit for purpose. The COMPASS providers are required to inspect properties each month and UKVI's contract compliance teams reinforce this by visiting properties regularly.</p><p>The Home Office expects the highest standards and where a contractor is found to be falling short of these standards we work with them to ensure that issues are quickly addressed.</p><p>Earlier this year, we instructed our supplier (G4S) to repaint the doors of G4S and Jomast managed properties to ensure that no one colour is predominant. I have received confirmation from the Provider that this had been completed, UKVI staff have also confirmed that no one colour is predominant as they have visited properties as part of their inspection regime.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 38730 38900 question first answered 06/06/2016 12:44:19 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

522199

	registered interest
	date	26/05/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many reports of criminal offences against residents of properties used to house asylum seekers have been recorded in each of the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	38729
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/06/2016 answer text <p>The Home Office and its accommodation providers encourage accommodated asylum seekers to inform us of any criminal or anti-social activity against them so that appropriate action can be taken to ensure their safety. Information concerning the reports of criminal offences is not recorded on centrally collated statistical databases and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost by examination of case records.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 15/06/2016 11:03:25 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire previous answer version 2071 answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

522200

	registered interest
	date	26/05/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Compass Contracts: Tees Valley
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the progress of the programme to re-paint the red doors of properties used to house asylum seekers on Teesside.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	38730
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2016 answer text <p>The provision of accommodation for asylum seekers is provided under the COMPASS contracts. It is the responsibility of all of the suppliers to ensure that all accommodation used meets the required contractual standard and complies with the Decent Homes Standards. The accommodation should be safe, habitable and fit for purpose. The COMPASS providers are required to inspect properties each month and UKVI's contract compliance teams reinforce this by visiting properties regularly.</p><p>The Home Office expects the highest standards and where a contractor is found to be falling short of these standards we work with them to ensure that issues are quickly addressed.</p><p>Earlier this year, we instructed our supplier (G4S) to repaint the doors of G4S and Jomast managed properties to ensure that no one colour is predominant. I have received confirmation from the Provider that this had been completed, UKVI staff have also confirmed that no one colour is predominant as they have visited properties as part of their inspection regime.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 38728 38900 question first answered 06/06/2016 12:44:19 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

682481

	registered interest
	date	24/01/2017
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Public Expenditure: Northern Ireland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the provision of public services of the absence of an agreed budget in Northern Ireland.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	908420
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2017 answer text <p>Agreeing a budget will be an important priority for the incoming Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that public services continue to be delivered for the people of Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p><p>If a Budget Act is not passed before the start of the new financial year, powers are available to the Permanent Secretary at the Department of Finance to continue funding public services.</p><p><strong><br> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 01/02/2017 15:39:48 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

433522

	registered interest
	date	01/12/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Refugees: Calais
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions her Department has conducted with its French counterpart on co-ordinating humanitarian relief efforts in Calais.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral South
	tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
	uin	18314
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/12/2015 answer text <p>The Home Office is in regular discussions with French counterparts at ministerial and official level on all aspects of the migrant situation in Calais. The French Government is responsible for the care of migrants in Calais, including support over the winter. However, both governments are committed to finding a sustainable solution to the situation in Calais. One aspect of the UK-France Joint Declaration of 20 August, committed the UK to providing a £3.6 million (or €5 million) per year for two years to help support a range of work to manage the migrant population in Calais, in particular to provide support and facilities elsewhere in France. Additionally, the UK has provided £530,000 (€750,000) to fund a project to identify those in the camps at risk of trafficking and exploitation, to transfer them to places of safety; and to provide them with appropriate support within the French system.</p><p>The UK and French Governments are unified in their response to the migratory phenomenon and both governments recognise the importance of close partnership and collaboration to reach a long-term solution. This is a global challenge, and we will also work together to ensure that other EU states, as well as source and transit countries outside Europe, are doing everything they ought to be to stop people making these dangerous journeys in the first place.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 18315 18316 18317 question first answered 07/12/2015 16:27:06 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire previous answer version 33717 answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern

433525

	registered interest
	date	01/12/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Refugees: Calais
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assistance and advice her Department is providing to UK volunteers offering assistance to refugees in Calais.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral South
	tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
	uin	18315
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/12/2015 answer text <p>The Home Office is in regular discussions with French counterparts at ministerial and official level on all aspects of the migrant situation in Calais. The French Government is responsible for the care of migrants in Calais, including support over the winter. However, both governments are committed to finding a sustainable solution to the situation in Calais. One aspect of the UK-France Joint Declaration of 20 August, committed the UK to providing a £3.6 million (or €5 million) per year for two years to help support a range of work to manage the migrant population in Calais, in particular to provide support and facilities elsewhere in France. Additionally, the UK has provided £530,000 (€750,000) to fund a project to identify those in the camps at risk of trafficking and exploitation, to transfer them to places of safety; and to provide them with appropriate support within the French system.</p><p>The UK and French Governments are unified in their response to the migratory phenomenon and both governments recognise the importance of close partnership and collaboration to reach a long-term solution. This is a global challenge, and we will also work together to ensure that other EU states, as well as source and transit countries outside Europe, are doing everything they ought to be to stop people making these dangerous journeys in the first place.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 18314 18316 18317 question first answered 07/12/2015 16:27:06 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire previous answer version 33718 answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern

433526

	registered interest
	date	01/12/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Refugees: Calais
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with her French counterpart on securing a long-term solution to the situation in Calais.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral South
	tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
	uin	18317
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/12/2015 answer text <p>The Home Office is in regular discussions with French counterparts at ministerial and official level on all aspects of the migrant situation in Calais. The French Government is responsible for the care of migrants in Calais, including support over the winter. However, both governments are committed to finding a sustainable solution to the situation in Calais. One aspect of the UK-France Joint Declaration of 20 August, committed the UK to providing a £3.6 million (or €5 million) per year for two years to help support a range of work to manage the migrant population in Calais, in particular to provide support and facilities elsewhere in France. Additionally, the UK has provided £530,000 (€750,000) to fund a project to identify those in the camps at risk of trafficking and exploitation, to transfer them to places of safety; and to provide them with appropriate support within the French system.</p><p>The UK and French Governments are unified in their response to the migratory phenomenon and both governments recognise the importance of close partnership and collaboration to reach a long-term solution. This is a global challenge, and we will also work together to ensure that other EU states, as well as source and transit countries outside Europe, are doing everything they ought to be to stop people making these dangerous journeys in the first place.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 18314 18315 18316 question first answered 07/12/2015 16:27:07 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire previous answer version 33720 answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern

433527

	registered interest
	date	01/12/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Refugees: Calais
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what preparations her Department has made for the increased level of aid required in Calais when winter sets in.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral South
	tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
	uin	18316
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/12/2015 answer text <p>The Home Office is in regular discussions with French counterparts at ministerial and official level on all aspects of the migrant situation in Calais. The French Government is responsible for the care of migrants in Calais, including support over the winter. However, both governments are committed to finding a sustainable solution to the situation in Calais. One aspect of the UK-France Joint Declaration of 20 August, committed the UK to providing a £3.6 million (or €5 million) per year for two years to help support a range of work to manage the migrant population in Calais, in particular to provide support and facilities elsewhere in France. Additionally, the UK has provided £530,000 (€750,000) to fund a project to identify those in the camps at risk of trafficking and exploitation, to transfer them to places of safety; and to provide them with appropriate support within the French system.</p><p>The UK and French Governments are unified in their response to the migratory phenomenon and both governments recognise the importance of close partnership and collaboration to reach a long-term solution. This is a global challenge, and we will also work together to ensure that other EU states, as well as source and transit countries outside Europe, are doing everything they ought to be to stop people making these dangerous journeys in the first place.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 18314 18315 18317 question first answered 07/12/2015 16:27:06 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire previous answer version 33719 answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern

58145

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Passports
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Immigration and Passport Service on (a) the service's ability to meet the three-week timescale for processing an application for a child passport and (b) possible extension of that timescale.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral South
	tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
	uin	199081
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Expected service standards for processing passports are given at: www.gov.uk.<br><br><br>My Rt. Hon. Friend the Home Secretary explained in the House on 12 June 2014<br>a set of measures to deal with the high level of passport demand has been put <br>in place. I refer the Hon. Member to the statement of 12 June 2014, Official <br>Report, columns 693 and 694.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 03/07/2014 13:37:14 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern

420182

	registered interest
	date	09/10/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Migrants: Health Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many visa applicants in (a) Scotland, (b) Glasgow and (c) Glasgow Central constituency have been liable for the Immigration Health Surcharge since that charge's introduction.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
	tabling member printed	Alison Thewliss
	uin	11042
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2015 answer text <p>Since its introduction in April, the Immigration Health Surcharge has collected more than £100 million in income for the NHS. The Home Office does not hold the necessary management information to determine how many visa applicants have been liable to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge by geographical location in the UK.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 19/10/2015 15:58:20 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4430 label Biography information for Alison Thewliss

420217

	registered interest
	date	09/10/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	HM Passport Office: Scotland
	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 in Scotland have been employed by HM Passport Office in each year since 2005.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
	tabling member printed	Alison Thewliss
	uin	10752
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2015 answer text <p>The numbers of staff employed by HM Passport Office in Scotland at 31st March each year since 2005 is shown in the attached table.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 19/10/2015 15:53:28 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire attachment 1 file name 10752 - Table.docx title HMPO staff employed in Scotland
	tabling member	4430 label Biography information for Alison Thewliss

437195

	registered interest
	date	10/12/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Applications
	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 set up a dedicated correspondence team in her Department to liaise with applicants solicitors on the processing of asylum claims.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
	tabling member printed	Alison Thewliss
	uin	19574
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2015 answer text <p>Asylum Operations has existing processes that ensure claimants and legal representatives have contact details should they wish to discuss case progression. In addition, all claimants and representatives are kept informed should an initial decision on their asylum claim be delayed, with this correspondence outlining the reason for delay and providing an approximate timescale as to when a decision can be expected.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 14/12/2015 17:26:23 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4430 label Biography information for Alison Thewliss

445032

	registered interest
	date	14/01/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Right of Abode
	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 make it her policy to offer a discounted rate for dependents who apply for a Certificate of Entitlement for Right of Abode in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
	tabling member printed	Alison Thewliss
	uin	22519
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2016 answer text <p>This Government has no plans to offer discounted rates for such dependants.</p><p>Income from application fees helps provide the resources necessary to operate the immigration system, with the remainder of funding provided through general taxation. The Government's aim is to reduce the overall contribution of funding that comes from general taxation.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 21/01/2016 17:56:47 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4430 label Biography information for Alison Thewliss

454239

	registered interest
	date	23/02/2016
	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, if she will make it her policy to provide certified copies of identity documents to visa applicants to support their applications to undertake an approved English language test.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
	tabling member printed	Alison Thewliss
	uin	28011
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/02/2016 answer text <p>There is no intention to change the current policy with regards to identity checks for Secure English Language Testing (SELT). Photocopies, whether certified or not, are not accepted when a candidate sits a test. Only original and valid documents are acceptable. This will allow test centre staff to confirm that the document is genuine and relates to the individual who is sitting the test.</p><p>The only acceptable forms of identification in the UK are:</p><p>• a passport or travel document;</p><p>• a EU Identity Card;</p><p>• a Biometric Residence Permit.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 29/02/2016 15:54:36 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4430 label Biography information for Alison Thewliss

456131

	registered interest
	date	29/02/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	UK Membership of EU
	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 effect of the UK leaving the EU on the immigration status of EU citizens currently resident in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
	tabling member printed	Alison Thewliss
	uin	29022
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/03/2016 answer text <p>At the February European Council, the Government negotiated a new settlement, giving the United Kingdom a special status in a reformed European Union. The Government's position, as set out by the Prime Minister to the House on 22 February, is that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU. The process for withdrawing from the EU has been set out in the White Paper published on 29 February 2016.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 07/03/2016 17:12:16 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4430 label Biography information for Alison Thewliss

461325

	registered interest
	date	11/03/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many initially rejected visa applications have been reconsidered as a result of changes in circumstances during the assessment process.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
	tabling member printed	Alison Thewliss
	uin	30823
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2016 answer text <p>The Home Office does not hold the information requested.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 17/03/2016 12:07:17 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4430 label Biography information for Alison Thewliss

475767

	registered interest
	date	15/03/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas
	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 make it her policy to introduce mandatory reconsideration for visa applications where a significant change in circumstances occur following an application decision.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
	tabling member printed	Alison Thewliss
	uin	31183
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2016 answer text <p>Every application is decided in accordance with the Immigration Rules based on the information provided by an applicant at the time of application. If the applicant’s circumstances change, a fresh application can be made at any stage but this must be treated as a new application as it will contain new information not previously considered.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 22/03/2016 12:45:12 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4430 label Biography information for Alison Thewliss

510119

	registered interest
	date	11/04/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	New Businesses: Visas
	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 review the financial requirements for tier 1 Entrepreneur visas.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
	tabling member printed	Alison Thewliss
	uin	33391
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/04/2016 answer text <p>In March 2015, the Government commissioned the Independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to assess the economic benefit of the UK’s provisions for non-EEA entrepreneurs. The MAC made a number of recommendations for reform of the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) route. On financial requirements they recommended that:</p><p>• the Government consider setting the lower investment threshold in the range of £40,000 to £50,000; and</p><p>• the higher investment threshold of £200,000 should apply to each applicant (currently, two applicants can share the funding i.e. £100,000 each), and that there may be a case for an inflationary uplift.</p><p>The Government is currently considering the MAC’s advice, and will announce its response in due course.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 18/04/2016 16:43:27 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4430 label Biography information for Alison Thewliss

513053

	registered interest
	date	14/04/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Deportation: Yemen
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much the Government spent on the enforced returns to Yemen of failed asylum claimants from that country in 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
	tabling member printed	Alison Thewliss
	uin	34006
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2016 answer text <p>The Home Office has published information on the average cost of removal but this is not broken down by country or initial application type, and to do so would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p>Further information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/costs-involved-in-detaining-and-removing-illegal-migrants.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 19/04/2016 17:14:26 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire previous answer version 56025 answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4430 label Biography information for Alison Thewliss

513055

	registered interest
	date	14/04/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Yemen
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum claims from people from Yemen were granted in (a) 2014 and (b) 2015.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
	tabling member printed	Alison Thewliss
	uin	33993
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2016 answer text <p>There were 9 and 50 grants of asylum or an alternative form of protection, at initial decision, to Yemeni nationals in 2014 and 2015 respectively.</p><p>There were 34 and 43 refusals of asylum or an alternative form of protection, at initial decision, to Yemeni nationals in 2014 and 2015 respectively.</p><p>The Home Office publishes figures on asylum initial decisions by nationality in the quarterly Immigration Statistics release. A copy of the latest release, Immigration Statistics, October to December 2015, is available from:</p><p>https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-october-to-december-2015</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 34043 question first answered 21/04/2016 11:58:07 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4430 label Biography information for Alison Thewliss

513056

	registered interest
	date	14/04/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Yemen
	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 from Yemen claimed asylum in the UK in 2015.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
	tabling member printed	Alison Thewliss
	uin	33994
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2016 answer text <p>There were 66 and 111 asylum applications from Yemeni nationals in 2014 and 2015, respectively.</p><p>The Home Office publishes figures on asylum applications by nationality in the quarterly Immigration Statistics release. A copy of the latest release, Immigration Statistics, October to December 2015, is available from:</p><p>https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-october-to-december-2015.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 34044 question first answered 21/04/2016 11:57:18 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4430 label Biography information for Alison Thewliss

513057

	registered interest
	date	14/04/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Deportation: Yemen
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which companies were contracted to facilitate enforced returns to Yemen for failed asylum seekers from that country in 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
	tabling member printed	Alison Thewliss
	uin	33995
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2016 answer text <p>All escorting services to facilitate enforced returns are provided by the Home Office’s main contractor, Tascor. In 2014, detainee custody officers from the Pilgrims Group, who are sub-contracted by Tascor were used on one occasion on 23rd July to facilitate the enforced return of an individual to Yemen.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 34015 question first answered 21/04/2016 11:57:46 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4430 label Biography information for Alison Thewliss

513058

	registered interest
	date	14/04/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Yemen
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum claims from people from Yemen were pending for the duration of (a) 2014 and (b) 2015.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
	tabling member printed	Alison Thewliss
	uin	33996
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2016 answer text <p>As at the end of 2014 and 2015 respectively, 66 and 73 asylum applications were pending a decision (initial decision, appeal or further review).</p><p>The Home Office publishes quarterly figures on asylum applications pending a decision in table as_01_q of the Immigration Statistics release. A copy of the latest release, Immigration Statistics October to December 2015, is available from:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release</a></p><p>Pending cases are those asylum applications, including fresh claims, lodged since 1 April 2006 which are still under consideration at the end of the reference period.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 21/04/2016 11:57:30 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4430 label Biography information for Alison Thewliss

513059

	registered interest
	date	14/04/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Deportation: Yemen
	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 claiming asylum from Yemen have had that claim refused and have subsequently been removed from the UK in each of the last five years; and to which country each of those people have been removed.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
	tabling member printed	Alison Thewliss
	uin	33999
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2016 answer text <p>The attached table shows the number of enforced and voluntary departures for nationals of Yemen, who had claimed asylum at some point, in each of the last five years and their destination.</p><p>The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of persons removed or departed voluntarily from the UK within Immigration Statistics. The data on removals and voluntary departures by destination are available in the latest release, Immigration Statistics: October to December 2015, table rv.06 from GOV.UK on the statistics web pages at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 21/04/2016 12:00:05 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire attachment 1 file name Table 33999.xlsx title Enforced & voluntary departures previous answer version 56024 answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4430 label Biography information for Alison Thewliss

513063

	registered interest
	date	14/04/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Yemen
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many claims for asylum from people from Yemen were refused in (a) 2014 and (b) 2015.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
	tabling member printed	Alison Thewliss
	uin	34043
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2016 answer text <p>There were 9 and 50 grants of asylum or an alternative form of protection, at initial decision, to Yemeni nationals in 2014 and 2015 respectively.</p><p>There were 34 and 43 refusals of asylum or an alternative form of protection, at initial decision, to Yemeni nationals in 2014 and 2015 respectively.</p><p>The Home Office publishes figures on asylum initial decisions by nationality in the quarterly Immigration Statistics release. A copy of the latest release, Immigration Statistics, October to December 2015, is available from:</p><p>https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-october-to-december-2015</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 33993 question first answered 21/04/2016 11:58:07 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4430 label Biography information for Alison Thewliss

513064

	registered interest
	date	14/04/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Yemen
	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 from Yemen claimed asylum in the UK in 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
	tabling member printed	Alison Thewliss
	uin	34044
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2016 answer text <p>There were 66 and 111 asylum applications from Yemeni nationals in 2014 and 2015, respectively.</p><p>The Home Office publishes figures on asylum applications by nationality in the quarterly Immigration Statistics release. A copy of the latest release, Immigration Statistics, October to December 2015, is available from:</p><p>https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-october-to-december-2015.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 33994 question first answered 21/04/2016 11:57:18 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4430 label Biography information for Alison Thewliss

513066

	registered interest
	date	14/04/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Deportation: Yemen
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times on which dates in 2014 specialist contractors were used to facilitate the enforced return to Yemen of people from that country who had unsuccessfully claimed asylum in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
	tabling member printed	Alison Thewliss
	uin	34015
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2016 answer text <p>All escorting services to facilitate enforced returns are provided by the Home Office’s main contractor, Tascor. In 2014, detainee custody officers from the Pilgrims Group, who are sub-contracted by Tascor were used on one occasion on 23rd July to facilitate the enforced return of an individual to Yemen.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 33995 question first answered 21/04/2016 11:57:46 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4430 label Biography information for Alison Thewliss

513070

	registered interest
	date	14/04/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Deportation: Yemen
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on which dates in 2014 enforced removals of people from Yemen who had unsuccessfully claimed asylum took place.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
	tabling member printed	Alison Thewliss
	uin	34016
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2016 answer text <p>In 2014, there were 3 enforced removals of nationals of Yemen who had claimed asylum at some point; 1 in April to June 2014, 1 in July to September 2014 and 1 in October to December 2014.</p><p>The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of persons removed or departed voluntarily from the UK within Immigration Statistics. The data on removals and voluntary departures are available in the latest release, Immigration Statistics: October to December 2015, table rv.03 from GOV.UK on the statistics web pages at:</p><p>https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 21/04/2016 11:58:59 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4430 label Biography information for Alison Thewliss

522189

	registered interest
	date	26/05/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Yemen
	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 from Yemen have claimed asylum in the UK in (a) 2015 and (b) 2016 to date.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
	tabling member printed	Alison Thewliss
	uin	38756
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2016 answer text <p>There were 111 asylum applications from Yemeni nationals in 2015, and 15 in Quarter 1 (January to March) 2016.</p><p>There were 12 refusals of asylum or an alternative form of protection, at initial decision, to Yemeni nationals in Quarter 1 (January to March) 2016.</p><p>The Home Office publishes figures on asylum applications and initial decisions by nationality in the quarterly Immigration Statistics release. A copy of the latest release, Immigration Statistics, January to March 2016, is available from:</p><p>https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-january-to-march-2016/asylum</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire grouped question UIN 38741 question first answered 06/06/2016 16:17:03 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4430 label Biography information for Alison Thewliss