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1345604

	registered interest
	date	12/07/2021
	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	What the average length of time is for her Department to process asylum applications.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Withington
	tabling member printed	Jeff Smith
	uin	902537
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/07/2021 answer text <p>Calculating an average length of time does not take into account the numerous factors that contribute to the decision-making process. Nor does it consider our prioritisation of children and the most vulnerable.</p><p>We are working to improve the speed of decisions and reduce the number of outstanding claims; but there will always be complex cases, and it is right we take time to work through them carefully, not rush to meet an arbitrary deadline.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 12/07/2021 16:06:05 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4456 label Biography information for Jeff Smith

1238060

	registered interest
	date	28/09/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Passports: Applications
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What recent progress her Department has made on reducing the time it takes to process passport applications.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Withington
	tabling member printed	Jeff Smith
	uin	906730
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2020 answer text <p>The measures put in place to increase capacity for processing passport applications have successfully helped to reduce turnaround times.</p><p>This includes rolling out a new system which increases the ability to process applications from home, and which is now processing almost 60 per cent of UK digital applications.</p><p>On 23 September, the median processing time for passport applications received from the UK was 8 working days<strong>. </strong></p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 28/09/2020 15:24:40 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4456 label Biography information for Jeff Smith

846959

	registered interest
	date	22/02/2018
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Drugs: Misuse
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Office, with reference to the report, Reducing Crime and Preventing Harm: West Midlands Drug Policy Recommendations, published in February 2018, whether she plans to bring forward proposals for the introduction of city centre drug testing facilities at night time economy venues.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Withington
	tabling member printed	Jeff Smith
	uin	129133
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2018 answer text <p>Drugs are illegal and there is scientific and medical evidence that they are harmful to health and society. The possession of any amount of a controlled drug is a criminal offence and the supply of a controlled drug (with intent to supply to others) is an even more serious offence. No illegal drug-taking can be assumed to be safe and there is no safe way to take them.</p><p>The Government’s approach remains clear: we must prevent illicit drug use in our communities and help those dependent to recover, while ensuring that our drugs laws are enforced. While operational decisions are a matter for Chief Constables, the Government and the public expect the police to enforce the law.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 12/03/2018 18:34:39 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4456 label Biography information for Jeff Smith

922114

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2018
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Heroin: Glasgow
	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 letter from his Department to Glasgow City Council published on 4 June 2018 on drug consumption rooms, what steps his Department is taking to protect heroin users in Glasgow against HIV infection.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Withington
	tabling member printed	Jeff Smith
	uin	152218
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2018 answer text <p>Health is a devolved matter, and as such is wholly the responsibility of the Scottish Government.</p><p>However, the Government support a range of evidenced-base approaches to reduce the health-related harms associated with drug misuse. For example, availability of injecting equipment through needle and syringe programmes to prevent blood borne infections including HIV.</p><p>We have also amended the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 to permit needle exchange programmes to distribute foil for heroin smoking and we are committed to widening the availability of Naloxone to prevent drug-related deaths.</p><p>We also recognise that, for many people who become dependent on heroin, opioid substitution therapy (OST) will be an important part of their pathway to recovery. For those where opioid substitutes have not been effective, Heroin Assisted Treatment (HAT) provides an alternative and effective way of treating individuals.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 22/06/2018 13:59:59 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4456 label Biography information for Jeff Smith

1088536

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Independent Child Trafficking Advocates Service
	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 his Department’s Interim Assessment of the first year of the Independent Child Trafficking Advocates (ICTA) service, what assessment he has made of the merits of expanding the ICTA scheme to all unaccompanied and separated children.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Withington
	tabling member printed	Jeff Smith
	uin	232046
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2019 answer text <p>The ICTA service was rolled out in three early adopter sites in Greater Manchester, Hampshire and Wales in January 2017 with an additional £2m invested to expand the ICTA provision into West Midlands, East Midlands and Croydon. This will mean the service will be available in one third of all local authorities by April 2019.</p><p><br>Unaccompanied children are looked after by the relevant local authority and are entitled to the same services as any other looked after child. Under these arrangements, unaccompanied children will have a professional social worker and an independent reviewing officer to oversee their care arrangements. All unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in England are referred to the Refugee Council’s Children’s Panel and they are also entitled to legal assistance in pursuing their asylum claim. The Government believes that these arrangements ensure unaccompanied children are provided with the independent and tailored support and advice that they need.</p><p><br>Section 48 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, which makes provisions for ICTAs, is being considered in the Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act led by Frank Field MP, Baroness Butler-Sloss and Maria Miller MP. The Government will carefully consider their recommendations, including any recommendations for the national rollout of ICTAs.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 21/03/2019 15:34:05 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4456 label Biography information for Jeff Smith

934227

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2018
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Cannabis: Medical Treatments
	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 his Department's press release of 19 June 2018, Home Office launches review into medical use of cannabis, when the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs will begin part two of the review.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Withington
	tabling member printed	Jeff Smith
	uin	160292
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2018 answer text <p>As the Home Secretary announced on 19 June, the Government is undertaking a two-phase review looking at the scheduling of cannabis. Part one was led by Professor Dame Sally Davies, the Chief Medical Advisor to the Government, and considered evidence for the medicinal and therapeutic benefits of cannabis and cannabis based medicinal products. This part of the review is now complete and the report was published on 3 July. <br>Also on 3 July, the Home Secretary commissioned the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to undertake part two of the review which will consider the appropriate schedule for cannabis related products, based on the balance of harms and public health requirements. The government has asked for short-term advice within three weeks of the commission with a full review expected by July 2019.</p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd grouped question UIN 160289 question first answered 06/07/2018 12:52:50 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
	tabling member	4456 label Biography information for Jeff Smith

934224

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2018
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Cannabis: Medical Treatments
	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 his Department's press release of 19 June 2018, Home Office launches review into medical use of cannabis, what the timetable is for the conclusion of (a) part 1 and (b) part 2 of the review into medical cannabis.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Withington
	tabling member printed	Jeff Smith
	uin	160289
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2018 answer text <p>As the Home Secretary announced on 19 June, the Government is undertaking a two-phase review looking at the scheduling of cannabis. Part one was led by Professor Dame Sally Davies, the Chief Medical Advisor to the Government, and considered evidence for the medicinal and therapeutic benefits of cannabis and cannabis based medicinal products. This part of the review is now complete and the report was published on 3 July. <br>Also on 3 July, the Home Secretary commissioned the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to undertake part two of the review which will consider the appropriate schedule for cannabis related products, based on the balance of harms and public health requirements. The government has asked for short-term advice within three weeks of the commission with a full review expected by July 2019.</p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd grouped question UIN 160292 question first answered 06/07/2018 12:52:50 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
	tabling member	4456 label Biography information for Jeff Smith

1132975

	registered interest
	date	18/06/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Applications
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Sopra Steria’s delivery of the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS), what assessment he has made of the (a) availability of free appointments and length of waiting times for applicants, (b) affordability of paid appointments for applicants and (c) the affordability of the pay-per-minute UKVCAS helpline.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Withington
	tabling member printed	Jeff Smith
	uin	266266
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2019 answer text <p>As part of their bid and delivery programme, Sopra Steria Limited (SSL) undertook market research to identify initial service locations and this included the impact on customer travel time, cost and accessibility.</p><p>There are currently six core sites across the UK at which application submission services are offered free of charge and beyond that, SSL offer a range of enhanced services in a further 52 locations. 62% of customers will, on average, have to travel less than 25 miles to visit a core service centre, with 78% travelling less than 50 miles.</p><p>UKVCAS offers customers the option to arrange an appointment at any of its core service points, located in Croydon, Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Belfast. The UKVCAS core service points offer appointments up to 35 days in advance. Free appointments are available Monday to Friday between 10:00 and 16:00, any appointments outside these times, and those at enhanced service points, are subject to a charge. The charges for these services were based on the extensive customer research SSL completed as part of their bid. SSL will continue to review prices in light of customer insight and demand.</p><p>We are aware that customers are currently experiencing difficulties in securing free appointments and this is resulting in them having to wait longer for an appointment. New appointments are released by SSL on a daily basis and UKVI continue to work with SSL to increase the number of appointments available to its customers through opening new service points and increasing the number of appointments available at its existing service points experiencing high demand.</p><p>In relation to your concern around the cost of the UKVCAS support line, this is an added value service which is optional to customers who wish to find out more information about the application service. Customers who do not wish to avail of this chargeable service, may also contact SSL via their website, where they can choose from two options “make an enquiry” or “make a complaint”. Once a customer has booked an appointment, they will also be provided with a local rate 0330 number on their booking confirmation.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 21/06/2019 11:32:44 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4456 label Biography information for Jeff Smith

1176450

	registered interest
	date	05/02/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Drugs: Misuse
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who has been invited to attend the Glasgow summit on tackling drugs misuse on 27 February 2020; what the criteria was for participants to receive an invitation to that summit; whether people are still able to apply to attend that summit; and whether that summit will accept input and evidence from expert organisations not currently listed as attending.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Withington
	tabling member printed	Jeff Smith
	uin	13010
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2020 answer text <p>The Summit will be an opportunity for dialogue between partners from all parts of the UK on the challenges of, and potential solutions to tackling the harms of, drug misuse. There will be representation at the Summit from all parts of the UK, including contributions from Glasgow, from public health leads of all four nations, and from UK Government Ministers as well as Ministers from each of the devolved administrations.</p><p>The Summit will bring together different perspectives across healthcare, law enforcement, prevention and recovery. As part of this there will be discussion of the forthcoming findings of the independent Review of Drugs, hearing from Professor Dame Carol Black about the demand and supply landscape and the nature of drug misuse. Dame Carol’s work will make an important contribution to the evidence base that can be used take action to tackle drug misuse and the harms it causes.</p><p>The full list of invitees is being finalised, taking account of suggestions from the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as from a range of UK Government departments and others. Invitations that have so far been issued include those to the chief medical officers for each part of the UK and chief scientists in relevant departments and in the devolved administrations. Further invitations will be issued over the coming days. Attendance at the Summit is by invitation only and it is not possible to apply to be invited. There will not be scope to receive further evidence in addition to the evidence that will be discussed by attendees, as is usual for events of this nature.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 12/02/2020 15:54:36 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
	tabling member	4456 label Biography information for Jeff Smith

922113

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2018
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Drugs: Festivals and Special Occasions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which (a) organisations and (b) individuals his Department has held discussions with on the consumption of illegal drugs at UK music festivals since April 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Withington
	tabling member printed	Jeff Smith
	uin	152217
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2018 answer text <p>Home Office officials are in regular contact with the National Policing Lead regarding the consumption of illegal drugs at UK music festivals.</p><p>No illegal drug-taking can be assumed to be safe and there is no safe way to take them.</p><p>While operational decisions are a matter for Chief Constables, the Government and the public expect the police to enforce the law.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 22/06/2018 14:01:28 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4456 label Biography information for Jeff Smith