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1353855

	registered interest
	date	08/09/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Immigration: Afghanistan
	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 had with representatives of Bexley Council on support and accommodation for Afghan families in that borough.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	uin	45288
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2021 answer text <p>The Government has worked at pace to develop and launch a new and bespoke resettlement scheme, announced on 18 August, which will relocate 5,000 vulnerable people in its first year, rising to up to 20,000 over the coming years –one of the most generous schemes in British history. The Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) is in addition to the Afghan Relocations Assistance Policy (ARAP), which offers any current or former locally employed staff who are assessed to be under serious threat to life priority relocation to the UK.</p><p>The need for suitable accommodation to support those we welcome is pressing. We need the help of every Council across the country to step up to offer accommodation and support for these families, so that we can swiftly help them into permanent, safe homes and enable them to start rebuilding their lives and integrating into our communities.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 13/09/2021 15:53:41 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1664623

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2023
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Alcoholic Drinks: VAT
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the VAT charged on alcohol supplied by (a) pubs and (b) supermarkets on the level of competition between those sectors.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	uin	202476
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2023 answer text <p>VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services, including alcohol sold at both pubs and supermarkets. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited by both legal and fiscal considerations.</p><p> </p><p>The Government understands the vital role the hospitality industry plays in the UK economy. We have implemented a new alcohol duty system on 1 August, which also has many benefits for pubs. The new Draught Relief provides a significant duty discount on alcohol sold in containers of 20 litres or more, in pubs and other on-trade venues. As well as this, the Government’s ‘Brexit Pubs Guarantee,’ confirms that the duty on a draught pint will always be lower than its equivalent in a supermarket.</p><p> </p><p>The Government continues to keep all taxes under review.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 18/10/2023 13:55:54 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1167064

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Undocumented Workers
	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 Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration’s inspection into the Home Office’s Approach to Illegal Working, published 9 May 2019, how much her Department spent on on-site immigration officials from October 2016 to September 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	7207
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2019 answer text <p>The service is provided to partners at their request on a cost recovery, not for profit basis and the costs of the service are recovered from our partners. The fees for the service are set out in the Home Office immigration and nationality fees order of 29 March 2019.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 05/11/2019 14:42:16 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1167065

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Immigration: EU Nationals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration's report entitled EU Settlement Scheme follow up, received by her Department on 30 September 2019, will be published.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	7208
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>The Home Secretary is considering the ICIBI report on the EU Settlement Scheme and it will be laid in Parliament in due course.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 04/11/2019 16:46:47 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1169939

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	British Nationality: 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 the High Court’s recent ruling that the £1,000 fee to register a child as UK citizens is unlawful; and whether she has plans to reduce the fee.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	1924
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2020 answer text <p>While this court case remains active it would not be right to speculate on next steps and potential courses of action. Although the judge ruled that there had not been proper consideration of the Government’s section 55 duties, the fees regulations were not in themselves quashed.</p><p>We are, though, committed to considering this issue and the judgment carefully and plan to do so with the diligence that is deserved.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 15/01/2020 17:12:08 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1170721

	registered interest
	date	14/01/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Immigration: Northern Ireland
	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 bring forward legislative proposals to protect the rights of families to reunite under the Dublin Regulation when the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	3310
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/01/2020 answer text <p>When the UK leaves the EU, the UK will immediately cease participating in the Dublin III Regulation. We will continue to be bound by Dublin during the implementation period and under the Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 there is a ‘savings’ provision, such that any Dublin family reunion cases, which have entered the system before the end of the implementation period, will continue to be processed.</p><p>The Government also remains committed to seeking an agreement with the EU for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the EU to join family members in the UK, and vice versa, where it is in their best interests. The Government’s policy has not changed and protecting vulnerable children will remain our priority after we leave the EU. The new Clause 37 in the Withdrawal Agreement Bill reaffirms this commitment while clarifying the role of Parliament and Government in negotiations. Clause 37 places an obligation on the Government to lay a statement before Parliament on this matter.</p><p>The UK provides a safe and legal route to bring families of refugees together through its refugee family reunion policy. This allows a partner and children under 18 of those granted protection in the UK to join them here, if they formed part of the family unit before the sponsor fled their country. This route will not be affected when we leave the EU.</p><p>Additionally, Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules provides for family members wishing to enter or remain in the UK on the basis of their relationship with a family member who is a British citizen or settled in the UK, and those who are post-flight family of a person granted protection in the UK.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 20/01/2020 17:29:12 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1170722

	registered interest
	date	14/01/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	British Nationality: 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 in response to the High Court judgment in Project for the Registration of British Citizens as Children and others v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2019] EWHC 3536 (Admin) of 19 December 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	3311
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/01/2020 answer text <p>While this court case remains active it would not be right to speculate on next steps and potential courses of action. We are, though, committed to considering this issue and the judgment carefully and plan to do so with the diligence that is deserved.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 20/01/2020 17:26:44 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1172244

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Immigration: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children were reunited with relatives in the UK under paragraph 319X of the Immigration Rules in (a) 2018 and (b) 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	6160
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2020 answer text <p>Within the published visa tables, decisions on applications made under paragraph 319X of the Immigration Rules are included in the ‘Dep. joining or accompanying: Other’ category, which also includes applicants in other routes covered by this category. The latest figures available are up to July to September 2019 and can be found in the Visa table Vis_D02 of the managed migration detailed datasets, available at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/managed-migration-datasets" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/managed-migration-datasets</a>.</p><p>The Home Office sets visa, immigration and citizenship fees at a level that helps provide the resources necessary to operate the Border, Immigration and Citizenship (BIC) system. Fee-setting criteria is set out in Section 68(9) of the Immigration Act 2014, full details of which can be reviewed via the following link: <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/22/section/68" target="_blank">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/22/section/68</a>.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 6161 question first answered 07/02/2020 13:20:40 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1172245

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Families
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to remove the application fee for family reunions under paragraph 319X of the Immigration Rules.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	6161
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2020 answer text <p>Within the published visa tables, decisions on applications made under paragraph 319X of the Immigration Rules are included in the ‘Dep. joining or accompanying: Other’ category, which also includes applicants in other routes covered by this category. The latest figures available are up to July to September 2019 and can be found in the Visa table Vis_D02 of the managed migration detailed datasets, available at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/managed-migration-datasets" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/managed-migration-datasets</a>.</p><p>The Home Office sets visa, immigration and citizenship fees at a level that helps provide the resources necessary to operate the Border, Immigration and Citizenship (BIC) system. Fee-setting criteria is set out in Section 68(9) of the Immigration Act 2014, full details of which can be reviewed via the following link: <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/22/section/68" target="_blank">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/22/section/68</a>.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 6160 question first answered 07/02/2020 13:20:40 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1315089

	registered interest
	date	17/05/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forced Labour: Uyghurs
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to amend the Modern Slavery Act 2015 to prevent UK companies from using forced Uyghur labour in their supply chains.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	2502
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2021 answer text <p>The Government has serious concerns about the gross human rights violations being perpetrated against Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang.</p><p>In January 2021, the Foreign Secretary announced a package of cross-Government policy measures seeking to ensure that UK private and public bodies are not complicit in, nor profiting from, the human rights violations in Xinjiang.</p><p>These measures included strengthening the Overseas Business Risk guidance; a review of export controls; increasing support for UK government bodies to exclude suppliers complicit in violations or abuses; and a commitment to introduce financial penalties under the Modern Slavery Act.</p><p>The commitment to introduce financial penalties for organisations which fail to meet their statutory obligations under the Modern Slavery Act builds on a wider package of measures to strengthen section 54 of the Act, including plans to extend transparency to large public bodies, mandate the specific reporting topics statements must cover, such as due diligence, and require organisations to submit their statements to a new centralised Government registry. These measures require legislative change and will be introduced when parliamentary time allows.</p><p>The Government continues to encourage businesses to monitor their supply chains, including any links to Xinjiang, with rigour and conduct appropriate due diligence to uncover and remedy any associations they find with modern slavery, including forced labour.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 20/05/2021 16:38:48 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1356941

	registered interest
	date	20/09/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of people evacuated from Afghanistan as part of Operation Pitting were (a) British nationals, (b) Afghan nationals evacuated as part of the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy and (c) Afghan nationals now subject to the Afghan citizens' resettlement scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	51826
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/09/2021 answer text <p>The Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) is not yet open We are working through how many of those who were unable to board flights will be offered a place under the ACRS. More details, as soon as they are available, will be published on the GOV.UK: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme</a></p><p>Between 15 and 29 August, the Department evacuated over 15,000 people from Afghanistan. That includes over 8,000 British nationals, along with their dependants; and 5,000 Afghans who loyally served the UK, along with their dependants; and around 500 special cases of particularly vulnerable Afghans, including Chevening scholars, journalists, human rights defenders, campaigners for women’s rights, judges and many others.</p><p>As the Government has announced, Afghans who have arrived under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme will be given indefinite leave to remain and others who arrived and are moving onto the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme will also be given ILR; we are working through individuals on a case by case basis.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 51828 51830 51831 question first answered 30/09/2021 15:52:43 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins previous answer version 23299 answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove answering member 4369
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1356943

	registered interest
	date	20/09/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Immigration: Afghanistan
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when Afghan nationals and their family members who arrived in the UK as part of Operation Pitting will receive notification of their indefinite leave to remain.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	51828
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/09/2021 answer text <p>The Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) is not yet open We are working through how many of those who were unable to board flights will be offered a place under the ACRS. More details, as soon as they are available, will be published on the GOV.UK: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme</a></p><p>Between 15 and 29 August, the Department evacuated over 15,000 people from Afghanistan. That includes over 8,000 British nationals, along with their dependants; and 5,000 Afghans who loyally served the UK, along with their dependants; and around 500 special cases of particularly vulnerable Afghans, including Chevening scholars, journalists, human rights defenders, campaigners for women’s rights, judges and many others.</p><p>As the Government has announced, Afghans who have arrived under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme will be given indefinite leave to remain and others who arrived and are moving onto the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme will also be given ILR; we are working through individuals on a case by case basis.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 51826 51830 51831 question first answered 30/09/2021 15:52:43 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins previous answer version 23302 answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove answering member 4369
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1356944

	registered interest
	date	20/09/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Afghanistan
	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 her Department's Afghanistan resettlement and immigration policy statement, published on 13 September 2021, what the UKVI's timeframe is for contacting recent arrivals as part of the ARAP Scheme or Afghan Locally Employed Staff Scheme in respect of their leave arrangements.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	51829
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2021 answer text <p>Following the policy statement the Government published on 13 September, we are working through the cases of those who have recently arrived from Afghanistan and will be processing them in line with the published policy. No one will be required to leave the United Kingdom, or be disadvantaged in any way, while we work through their cases.</p><p>We issued new guidelines that mean former locally employed staff (LES) under the ARAP scheme who meet the requirements for entry clearance will be issued with indefinite leave to enter. Relevant Afghan citizens already in the UK with limited leave can apply for indefinite leave to remain at any time.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 15/10/2021 09:02:28 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins previous answer version 24032 answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1356945

	registered interest
	date	20/09/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of the Afghan nationals evacuated as part of Operation Pitting will be settled under the Afghan citizens' resettlement scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	51830
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/09/2021 answer text <p>The Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) is not yet open We are working through how many of those who were unable to board flights will be offered a place under the ACRS. More details, as soon as they are available, will be published on the GOV.UK: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme</a></p><p>Between 15 and 29 August, the Department evacuated over 15,000 people from Afghanistan. That includes over 8,000 British nationals, along with their dependants; and 5,000 Afghans who loyally served the UK, along with their dependants; and around 500 special cases of particularly vulnerable Afghans, including Chevening scholars, journalists, human rights defenders, campaigners for women’s rights, judges and many others.</p><p>As the Government has announced, Afghans who have arrived under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme will be given indefinite leave to remain and others who arrived and are moving onto the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme will also be given ILR; we are working through individuals on a case by case basis.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 51826 51828 51831 question first answered 30/09/2021 15:52:43 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins previous answer version 23303 answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove answering member 4369
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1356946

	registered interest
	date	20/09/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Afghan nationals who were called forward or authorised for evacuation from Afghanistan but who were unable to board flights will be offered a place under the Afghan citizens' resettlement scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	51831
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/09/2021 answer text <p>The Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) is not yet open We are working through how many of those who were unable to board flights will be offered a place under the ACRS. More details, as soon as they are available, will be published on the GOV.UK: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme</a></p><p>Between 15 and 29 August, the Department evacuated over 15,000 people from Afghanistan. That includes over 8,000 British nationals, along with their dependants; and 5,000 Afghans who loyally served the UK, along with their dependants; and around 500 special cases of particularly vulnerable Afghans, including Chevening scholars, journalists, human rights defenders, campaigners for women’s rights, judges and many others.</p><p>As the Government has announced, Afghans who have arrived under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme will be given indefinite leave to remain and others who arrived and are moving onto the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme will also be given ILR; we are working through individuals on a case by case basis.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 51826 51828 51830 question first answered 30/09/2021 15:52:43 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins previous answer version 23304 answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove answering member 4369
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1356947

	registered interest
	date	20/09/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to begin consultations with the UNHCR in order to facilitate the resettlement of Afghan refugees as part of the Afghan citizens' resettlement scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	51832
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2021 answer text <p>Ministers and officials have met regularly with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in recent weeks to discuss the international response to the situation in Afghanistan, including the establishment of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS).</p><p>The Government will continue to work closely with the UNHCR in the development of the ACRS and in the operation of our other resettlement schemes.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 28/09/2021 16:06:24 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1356948

	registered interest
	date	20/09/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Afghan nationals who were called forward or authorised for evacuation under the Afghan Citizen Resettlement Scheme who made their own way to the UK after being unable to board airlift flights will be permitted to stay in the UK under that scheme and granted indefinite leave to remain.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	51833
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2021 answer text <p>Those notified by the UK that they had been called forward, but were unable to board evacuation flights, will be offered a place on the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). Efforts are ongoing to facilitate travel to the UK from the region for this group. Further information on the eligibility, prioritisation and referral of people for the ACRS is set out in the policy statement published on gov.uk on 13 September, available at <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fafghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement&amp;data=04%7C01%7CSian.Heeley%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C8bc6d4b91a904f88959108d97ce8f8d4%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C637678162313341637%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=O4KkVLTZGXqvqtqsOYMZQbsZx8xGNU2ipyCT5wh6DaY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement</a>. Those who are eligible under ACRS will be granted ILR in the UK.</p><p>Those who arrive in the UK via irregular routes are able to claim asylum. The Government is clear that people should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach and not risk their lives making dangerous journeys.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 28/09/2021 16:19:52 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1356949

	registered interest
	date	20/09/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Afghanistan
	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 potential merits of suspending the requirement for biometrics for Afghan (a) nationals ineligible under Operation Pitting trying to join British citizens or settled persons in the UK and (b) family members of refugees already in the UK, given there is no currently option to provide biometrics in Afghanistan.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	51834
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2021 answer text <p>There are no plans to suspend the requirement for biometrics from Afghan nationals ineligible under Operation Pitting trying to join British citizens or settled persons in the UK and family members of refugees already in the UK.</p><p>This was set out in paragraphs 40 and 41 of the Afghanistan resettlement and immigration policy statement published on 13 September.</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement-accessible-version" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement-accessible-version</a></p><p>Biometrics underpin the UK’s immigration system to support identity assurance and suitability checks on foreign nationals who are subject to immigration control. They enable us to conduct comprehensive checks against immigration and criminality records to prevent leave being granted to those who pose a harm to national security or are likely to breach our laws.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 28/09/2021 16:04:06 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1356953

	registered interest
	date	20/09/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Immigration: Afghanistan
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what process her Department is using to upgrade the immigration status of Afghans who arrived in the UK and were granted six months leave to enter outside the rules but who are now eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	51838
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2021 answer text <p>Details of the type of leave to be granted to those arriving from Afghanistan, and how they will be supported in obtaining that leave, can be found in the Afghanistan Resettlement and Immigration policy statement.</p><p>The Home Office has established a dedicated caseworking team, which is working jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Ministry of Defence. This team will contact all those who recently arrived to discuss their leave arrangements and ensure they get the right form of leave.</p><p>Those who are here with limited leave under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy can apply to convert this to indefinite leave to remain at any time before their limited leave expires.</p><p>The policy statement can be viewed here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement" target="_blank">Afghanistan resettlement and immigration policy statement - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 51839 question first answered 28/09/2021 16:12:59 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1356954

	registered interest
	date	20/09/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department expects Afghan nationals who were in the UK before 2 September 2021 with limited leave under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy, including through the Afghan Locally Employed Staff Scheme, to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain; and how that process is being managed.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	51839
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2021 answer text <p>Details of the type of leave to be granted to those arriving from Afghanistan, and how they will be supported in obtaining that leave, can be found in the Afghanistan Resettlement and Immigration policy statement.</p><p>The Home Office has established a dedicated caseworking team, which is working jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Ministry of Defence. This team will contact all those who recently arrived to discuss their leave arrangements and ensure they get the right form of leave.</p><p>Those who are here with limited leave under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy can apply to convert this to indefinite leave to remain at any time before their limited leave expires.</p><p>The policy statement can be viewed here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement" target="_blank">Afghanistan resettlement and immigration policy statement - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 51838 question first answered 28/09/2021 16:12:59 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1359138

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
	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 September 2021 to Question 51839, by what process Afghan nationals already in the UK with limited leave under (a) the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy or (b) Afghan Locally Employed Staff are expected to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, and if this process will be (a) online and (b) free of charge.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	56184
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2021 answer text <p>The Home Office has established a dedicated caseworking team, which is working jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Ministry of Defence. This team will contact all those who recently arrived to discuss their leave arrangements and ensure they get the right form of leave.</p><p>(a) Those who are here with limited leave under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy can apply to convert this to indefinite leave to remain at any time before their limited leave expires. This application is a free application and can be applied for online.</p><p>(b) Locally employed staff who meet the eligibility criteria for relocation under the ARAP scheme will have the opportunity to apply for limited leave to enter the UK. Locally employed staff already in the UK with temporary status under ARAP can apply, free of charge, to convert their status to indefinite leave to remain. This can be applied for online.</p><p>Details of the type of leave to be granted to those arriving from Afghanistan, and how they will be supported in obtaining that leave, can be found in the Afghanistan Resettlement and Immigration policy statement.</p><p>The policy statement can be viewed here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement-accessible-version#afghan-relocations-and-assistance-policy" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement-accessible-version#afghan-relocations-and-assistance-policy</a></p><p> </p><p>Further information regarding Locally employed staff, can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghan-locally-engaged-staff" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghan-locally-engaged-staff</a></p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 20/10/2021 16:52:54 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins previous answer version 25485 answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1359139

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
	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 30 September 2021 to Question 51826 on Refugees: Afghanistan, what her Department's timeframe is for notifying each person (a) under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy and (b) those moving onto the Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme of their Indefinite Leave to Remain status.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	56188
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2021 answer text <p>Following the policy statement, the Government published on 13 September, we will be working through the cases of those who have recently arrived from Afghanistan and will be processing them in line with the published policy.</p><p>The Home Office is contacting those here in the UK under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy and those moving onto the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme, in order to assist them to obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain status from early November onwards.</p><p>No one will be required to leave the United Kingdom, or be disadvantaged in any way, while we work through their cases.</p><p>More information can be found in the Afghanistan Resettlement and Immigration Policy Statement</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement-accessible-version#afghan-relocations-and-assistance-policy" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement-accessible-version#afghan-relocations-and-assistance-policy</a></p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 57317 question first answered 27/10/2021 14:50:58 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1360442

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Immigration: Afghanistan
	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 September 2021 to Question 51838 on Immigration: Afghanistan, whether her Department has a timeline for contacting all those Afghans nationals who have recently arrived in the UK to ensure they have the appropriate and correct leave arrangements.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	57317
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2021 answer text <p>Following the policy statement, the Government published on 13 September, we will be working through the cases of those who have recently arrived from Afghanistan and will be processing them in line with the published policy.</p><p>The Home Office is contacting those here in the UK under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy and those moving onto the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme, in order to assist them to obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain status from early November onwards.</p><p>No one will be required to leave the United Kingdom, or be disadvantaged in any way, while we work through their cases.</p><p>More information can be found in the Afghanistan Resettlement and Immigration Policy Statement</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement-accessible-version#afghan-relocations-and-assistance-policy" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement-accessible-version#afghan-relocations-and-assistance-policy</a></p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 56188 question first answered 27/10/2021 14:50:58 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1386214

	registered interest
	date	08/12/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisons: Race Relations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people employed across the prison estate have race relations as the primary purpose of their role, as of 7 December 2021.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	89666
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2021 answer text <p>Data held centrally does not provide information on the primary purpose of roles across the prison estate. This could only be provided at disproportionate cost as there would be a need for every prison in England and Wales to collate it locally.</p><p> </p><p>Annual data on the prison population by ethnicity group can be found in Table A1.9i of the Offender Management Statistics Quarterly publication. In 2018, we also introduced a new table (Table A1.9ii) showing the prison population by ‘detailed ethnicity group’. Both of these can be found at: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1006270/Population_30June2021_Annual.ods" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1006270/Population_30June2021_Annual.ods</a>.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 89668 question first answered 13/12/2021 17:17:59 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1386369

	registered interest
	date	08/12/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisoners: Ethnic Groups
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate she has made of the prison population who are BAME since 2017.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	89668
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2021 answer text <p>Data held centrally does not provide information on the primary purpose of roles across the prison estate. This could only be provided at disproportionate cost as there would be a need for every prison in England and Wales to collate it locally.</p><p> </p><p>Annual data on the prison population by ethnicity group can be found in Table A1.9i of the Offender Management Statistics Quarterly publication. In 2018, we also introduced a new table (Table A1.9ii) showing the prison population by ‘detailed ethnicity group’. Both of these can be found at: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1006270/Population_30June2021_Annual.ods" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1006270/Population_30June2021_Annual.ods</a>.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 89666 question first answered 13/12/2021 17:17:59 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1401972

	registered interest
	date	11/01/2022
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Youth Custody: Ethnic Groups
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of BAME children in youth custody in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	101820
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2022 answer text <p>The youth justice statistics collection is published on GOV.UK. Within these, monthly statistics on children and young people within the secure estate are released, including the ethnic background of children in custody. The latest publication providing data on those present in custody can be found via the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/youth-custody-data" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/youth-custody-data</a></p><p> </p><p>Population data is also published as part of the annual report, with the most recent release covering the year ending March 2020 and the next update due for publication 27 January.</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/youth-justice-statistics-2019-to-2020" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/youth-justice-statistics-2019-to-2020</a></p><p> </p><p>Data includes those aged under 18, and 18-year olds. Some 18-year olds remain in the secure estate for children and young people if they only have a short period of their sentence to serve, to avoid disrupting their regimes.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 14/01/2022 14:37:26 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1405280

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2022
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Wayland Prison: Solar Power
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which company supplied the solar panels recently installed at HMP Wayland.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	109339
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2022 answer text <p>The solar panels at HMP Wayland were supplied by EQUANS (formally ENGIE).</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 26/01/2022 17:13:22 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1420372

	registered interest
	date	07/02/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Immigration: Afghanistan
	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 support Afghan nationals after the end of their six 6 months leave to remain in the UK; and what steps her Department is taking to provide information, advice and support to those people before the end of that six month period.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	119804
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2022 answer text <p>The Home Office has written to Afghan families advising them of the next steps to progress permanent residence in the UK.</p><p>The Home Office has established a dedicated caseworking team, which is working jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Ministry of Defence. This team is contacting those here in the UK under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy and those moving onto the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme, to assist them to obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain status.</p><p>While families are being accommodated in Bridging Hotel accommodation, their essential living needs are being met. We have already put in place numerous mechanisms to support families, this includes a contact centre, a DWP and Home Office Liaison officer (HOLO) presence to support Universal Credit enrolment, lead job surgeries and reassure families and a funding package of £28 per person per day for provision of Local Authority Wrap- around support services. We are providing full food and board to all guests alongside 24/7 security presence on site.</p><p>The role of the HOLO is to provide both face to face support and remote support when not physically present. They are reactive to the needs of those accommodated in hotels and can provide signposting to other government departments and Local Authorities and ensure safeguarding concerns are appropriately acted upon.</p><p>The provisions provided by the LA funding package include welcome services, needs identification, translation, healthcare in the hotels, GP registration, safeguarding and community cohesion support.</p><p>We initiated a ‘Jobs First Pilot in 3 hotels on 31<sup>st</sup> January 2022. This is being led by DWP and aims to support guests within the hotels to find employment and begin their journey to financial independence.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 23/02/2022 18:07:22 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1420373

	registered interest
	date	07/02/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many places on the Afghan Citizens Resettlement scheme have yet to be allocated; and how many people who have been given protection under that scheme are (a) British nationals or (b) living in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	119805
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2022 answer text <p>The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) commenced on 6th January. The ACRS will provide up to 20,000 women, children and others at risk with a safe and legal route to resettle in the UK.</p><p>British Nationals are being supported outside the ACRS. We will include this data within published resettlement statistics later in 2022.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 10/02/2022 17:34:40 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1433534

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2022
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Wayland Prison: Solar Power
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2022 to Question 109339 on Wayland Prison: Solar Power, what the total value was of that contract.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	126891
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/02/2022 answer text <p>The contract with Engie for installing solar panels at HMP Wayland is part of a wider contract, which is available on Contracts finder: <a href="https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/17b1fe6c-a5f4-4d2f-b1f1-d62f029a651e?origin=SearchResults&amp;p=1" target="_blank">ENGIE - HMPPS SOLAR PV GROUNDMOUNTED LOT 1 - Contracts Finder</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Specific terms and conditions of our contracts are commercially sensitive.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 126895 question first answered 28/02/2022 11:03:05 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1433899

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2022
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Wayland Prison: Solar Power
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2022 to Question 109339 on Wayland Prison: Solar Power, what the breakage costs are of the solar panel contract provided by ENGIE.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	126895
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/02/2022 answer text <p>The contract with Engie for installing solar panels at HMP Wayland is part of a wider contract, which is available on Contracts finder: <a href="https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/17b1fe6c-a5f4-4d2f-b1f1-d62f029a651e?origin=SearchResults&amp;p=1" target="_blank">ENGIE - HMPPS SOLAR PV GROUNDMOUNTED LOT 1 - Contracts Finder</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Specific terms and conditions of our contracts are commercially sensitive.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 126891 question first answered 28/02/2022 11:03:05 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1439432

	registered interest
	date	09/03/2022
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Treatment of, and Outcomes for, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Individuals in the Criminal Justice System Independent Review
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many of the recommendations of the Lammy Review, published on 8 September 2017, have been implemented by the Government to date.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	137436
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2022 answer text <p>The Government published its response to the Lammy Review in 2017. Of the 35 recommendations in the Lammy Review, 33 recommendations were accepted; the two that were not taken forward by Government were related to the independent judiciary (Recommendations 14, 16).</p><p> </p><p>Actions have been taken against each of the accepted 33 recommendations. Few actions remain incomplete, with those left centred on long-term recruitment targets and developing a more representative workforce within HMPPPS (recommendations 28 and 29). They will need to remain open for some time as they involve long term targets. A detailed update on progress against all the recommendations of the Lammy Review was published in 2020: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/881317/tackling-racial-disparity-cjs-2020.pdf" target="_blank">Tackling Racial Disparity in the Criminal Justice System: 2020 Update (publishing.service.gov.uk)</a>.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 15/03/2022 17:42:09 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1457987

	registered interest
	date	14/04/2022
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Domestic Abuse: Victim Support Schemes
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to help protect victims of domestic abuse when non-molestation orders have been breached and offenders have up to 28 days before being charged.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	154368
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2022 answer text <p>Non-molestation orders are civil orders made by the family court to protect victims and their children from the harm of domestic abuse. Breach of an order is a criminal offence. The police take breaches of such protective orders extremely seriously and have the necessary powers to arrest, investigate and commence criminal proceedings. Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, the police can hold a suspect in detention for up to 96 hours depending on the seriousness of the case, or up to 14 days under the Terrorism Act, before being charged or can grant pre-charge bail if there are no grounds to keep a suspect in detention while the investigation continues. The police have further powers to remand the suspect in custody once charges are made, for example if there is a risk of further offences being committed by the suspect if released on bail before a court hearing.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Government is bringing in reforms to the pre-charge bail regime through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which will allow for better protection for victims in all criminal cases, including violent and sexual offences. The reforms include the removal of the perceived presumption against use of pre-charge bail; new risk factors to be considered when making bail decisions; amending the timescales and authorisation levels for pre-charge bail, and a new duty to seek views from victims on bail conditions which relate to their safeguarding.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 25/04/2022 14:10:33 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1457988

	registered interest
	date	14/04/2022
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Domestic Abuse: Victim Support Schemes
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what support his Department providing to victims of domestic abuse.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	154369
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2022 answer text <p>As part of the Government’s ambition to protect and better support victims of domestic abuse, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 introduces a range of measures to help protect victims of domestic abuse and their children. These include important new protections and support for victims ensuring that abusers will no longer be allowed to directly cross-examine their victims in the family and civil courts, and giving victims better access to special measures in the courtroom, such as protective screens and giving evidence via video link. The Act also introduces measures to tackle levels of domestic abuse including new criminal offences such as non-fatal strangulation and suffocation and extending the coercing and controlling behaviour offence to remove the “living together’’ requirement, so that the offence applies to partners, ex-partners or family members, regardless of whether the victim and perpetrator live together.</p><p> </p><p>Building on the Domestic Abuse Act, we have made substantial commitments in the Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan published by the Home Office in March 2022, to better support victims of domestic abuse. Commitments include multi-year funding for victim support services which are crucial for helping victims engage in the criminal justice process. As part of this, the Ministry of Justice is bolstering support for victims by increasing its funding from £150.5m in 2021/22 to £185 million by 2024/25. This will ensure support is available to more victims and includes funding to increase the number of Independent Sexual and Domestic Violence Advisers to over 1,000, and other key services like crisis helplines. A Perpetrator Strategy forms part of the Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan and sets out clear commitments to prioritise addressing behaviour, stopping people from becoming perpetrators and victims in the first place.</p><p> </p><p>Through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, we are also giving victims more time to report domestic abuse-related assaults by extending the time limit for prosecutions to six months from a formal report to the police within an overall limit of two years from the offence. We have also consulted and will publish a draft Bill which will continue to ensure victims are at the heart of the criminal justice system.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 154370 question first answered 25/04/2022 17:08:55 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1457989

	registered interest
	date	14/04/2022
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Domestic Abuse
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to tackle levels of domestic abuse.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	154370
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2022 answer text <p>As part of the Government’s ambition to protect and better support victims of domestic abuse, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 introduces a range of measures to help protect victims of domestic abuse and their children. These include important new protections and support for victims ensuring that abusers will no longer be allowed to directly cross-examine their victims in the family and civil courts, and giving victims better access to special measures in the courtroom, such as protective screens and giving evidence via video link. The Act also introduces measures to tackle levels of domestic abuse including new criminal offences such as non-fatal strangulation and suffocation and extending the coercing and controlling behaviour offence to remove the “living together’’ requirement, so that the offence applies to partners, ex-partners or family members, regardless of whether the victim and perpetrator live together.</p><p> </p><p>Building on the Domestic Abuse Act, we have made substantial commitments in the Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan published by the Home Office in March 2022, to better support victims of domestic abuse. Commitments include multi-year funding for victim support services which are crucial for helping victims engage in the criminal justice process. As part of this, the Ministry of Justice is bolstering support for victims by increasing its funding from £150.5m in 2021/22 to £185 million by 2024/25. This will ensure support is available to more victims and includes funding to increase the number of Independent Sexual and Domestic Violence Advisers to over 1,000, and other key services like crisis helplines. A Perpetrator Strategy forms part of the Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan and sets out clear commitments to prioritise addressing behaviour, stopping people from becoming perpetrators and victims in the first place.</p><p> </p><p>Through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, we are also giving victims more time to report domestic abuse-related assaults by extending the time limit for prosecutions to six months from a formal report to the police within an overall limit of two years from the offence. We have also consulted and will publish a draft Bill which will continue to ensure victims are at the heart of the criminal justice system.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 154369 question first answered 25/04/2022 17:08:55 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1666138

	registered interest
	date	19/10/2023
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Exports
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish a list of the ten largest exporters of goods in each region of the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	203588
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2023 answer text <p>HM Revenue &amp; Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK. HMRC releases this information monthly, as a National Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (<a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.uktradeinfo.com%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Csatvinder.juttla%40hmrc.gov.uk%7Cf7850ca447ed4360c4d108dbd151faa3%7Cac52f73cfd1a4a9a8e7a4a248f3139e1%7C0%7C0%7C638333922240552133%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=G9m1A5zHX%2FwdbEzdyro4a8hQsgbOVDpilw%2BsU%2BfSqdI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.uktradeinfo.com</a>). From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria and download bulk datasets.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (CRCA), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has a statutory duty of confidentiality to protect the information it holds about taxpayers. As a result, it is not possible to confirm the ten largest exporters of goods in each region of the UK without the request identifying information relating to an individual taxpayer or taxpayers.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 25/10/2023 07:39:28 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1352120

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether people arriving in the UK under the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme will be granted indefinite leave to remain.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	41974
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2021 answer text <p>On Monday 6<sup>th</sup> September, the Prime Minister announced that those arriving through the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) will be granted immediate Indefinite Leave to Remain, allowing them to benefit from full rights and entitlements and providing them with the certainty and stability they need to build their life here.</p><p>This is consistent with the leave granted to those arriving through the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS) and the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP).</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 13/09/2021 15:51:39 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1352121

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
	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 Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on mental health support for people arriving under the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	41975
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2021 answer text <p>On Wednesday 18 August, the Government announced a new bespoke Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), to welcome up to 20,000 vulnerable Afghans to the UK. The scheme will focus on those most at risk and in its first year will resettle up to 5,000 vulnerable Afghans. Subsequently, on 31 August, the Government announced ‘Operation Warm Welcome’ to ensure that all those relocated to the UK can access the vital health, education, and support into employment they need to fully integrate into society.</p><p>We are working across Government to ensure that Afghan people who have been evacuated under Op Pitting or who have come to the UK through the ARAP and ACRS schemes, are well supported in all their needs. This includes engagement with the Department for Health and Social Care, where we are having ongoing conversations around health provision. We are continuing to work with other Departments as part of urgently opening this route - further details will be announced in due course on <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fguidance%2Fafghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme&amp;data=04%7C01%7CMichaela.Bowers3%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C3e35ae17587548ae5aa508d976a5cec9%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C637671276764896281%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=ZKI%2FxXw2CoXOR%2FTb%2Fib%2FHLGiEGII%2B5mJznsLctzwqXk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">gov.uk</a>.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 13/09/2021 15:24:03 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1624491

	registered interest
	date	27/04/2023
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Pensioners: Taxation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people of state pension age will start to pay tax for the first time on their pensionable income due to the freezing of the personal allowance at £12,570 following the increase of the state pension by 10.1 per cent.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	183125
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2023 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that older people are able to live with the dignity and respect they deserve, and the State Pension is the foundation of state support for older people.</p><p> </p><p>The Personal Allowance (PA), the amount of income that each individual may receive before paying income tax is currently set at a level high enough to ensure that those pensioners whose sole income is the new State Pension or basic State Pension do not pay any income tax.</p><p> </p><p>The Government publish estimates of the number of income taxpayers who are above the state pension age. This is available in National Statistics Table 2.1 Number of individual income taxpayers available on GOV.UK here <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/number-of-individual-income-taxpayers-by-marginal-rate-gender-and-age" target="_blank"><em>https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/number-of-individual-income-taxpayers-by-marginal-rate-gender-and-age</em></a><em>.</em></p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 09/05/2023 15:59:14 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1168981

	registered interest
	date	06/01/2020
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Gender Recognition Act 2004: Public Consultation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when the Government plans to publish its response to the Reform of the Gender Recognition Act 2004 consultation.
	tabling member constituency	South Leicestershire
	tabling member printed	Alberto Costa
	uin	485
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/01/2020 answer text <p>Reform of the Gender Recognition Act would have an impact across several different public services and it is imperative that any changes work effectively and have support. We have analysed the 100,000+ responses to the consultation and are working hard with colleagues across Whitehall and relevant agencies to consider the appropriate next steps. We will publish our response to the consultation once these have been agreed in due course.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 09/01/2020 11:22:03 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4439 label Biography information for Alberto Costa

1150719

	registered interest
	date	18/10/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Harassment: Fixed Penalties
	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 potential merits of introducing a fixed penalty offence for harassment.
	tabling member constituency	Cheltenham
	tabling member printed	Alex Chalk
	uin	1920
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government takes all forms of harassment extremely seriously.</p><p>Unwelcome advances that intimidate, degrade or humiliate, are an abuse of power and are unlawful. This Government has incorporated sexual harassment into the Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy for the first time, in recognition of its disproportionate impact on women.</p><p>Several criminal offences already cover sexual harassment in public places, including the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, the Public Order Act 1986, the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and the Equality Act 2010.</p><p>Together with the Government Equalities Office, we are working to better understand the prevalence of sexual harassment in the workplace and in public places. This autumn we will be running a nationally representative survey that will go out to 12,000 respondents. We will then consider next steps when we have access to this important evidence.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 28/10/2019 16:45:46 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk

1171031

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Sex Establishments: Licensing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government has plans to review the current policy on sexual entertainment licences that allows for venues to operate pop-up sexual entertainment venues.
	tabling member constituency	Cheltenham
	tabling member printed	Alex Chalk
	uin	3853
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2020 answer text <p>We currently have no plans to amend the legislation surrounding the licensing of sexual entertainment venues. However, we routinely review local licensing regulations and we continue to work with the police to make sure that public nuisance issues are being tackled.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 24/01/2020 13:39:13 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk

1173948

	registered interest
	date	28/01/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	UK Visas and Immigration: Staff
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many officials were responsible for examining and making decisions on asylum applications at the end of 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	9022
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2020 answer text <p>The number of officials across the department who were responsible for examining and making decisions on asylum applications at the end of 2019 is not held in a reportable format. To obtain this information would require detailed reporting against multiple cost centres and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.</p><p>Decisions on asylum claims are made by decision makers in Asylum Operations. All staff are maintained at a level that allows the Home Office to progress cases and make timely decisions.</p><p>All asylum claims lodged in the UK are carefully considered on their individual merits against a background of relevant case law and up to date country information.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 05/02/2020 15:52:14 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1217902

	registered interest
	date	25/06/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Domestic Abuse: LGBT+ People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support her Department is providing to LGBTQ+ people who have experienced parental abuse during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	64910
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2020 answer text <p>The Home Office has taken considerable action during the pandemic to assess and combat the impact of COVID-19 on all victims of domestic abuse. This includes LGBT+ individuals and the guidance we have published on gov.uk provides specific advice for members of the LGBT+ community.</p><p>We also continue to support the National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse helpline, providing £120,000 of funding each year since 2016. The helpline provides a vital service for LGBT+ individuals who are or have been victims of domestic abuse, including parental abuse. This important service has remained available to victims throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p>In addition to our regular funding, the Home Office has announced £2 million in funding to alleviate the increased pressures of COVID-19. This money ensures that helplines and online services continue to be readily available to victims. £1.2 million of this has already been allocated, including funding for the charity Galop, the organisation that runs the LGBT+ helpline.</p><p> </p><p>This funding is on top of the Treasury’s £750 million package to bolster charities, £76 million of which will support survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence and modern slavery, whilst also ensuring that vulnerable children and young people continue to get the help they need.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 06/07/2020 11:47:54 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1224416

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Offences against Children: Coronavirus
	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 ensure that children and young people at risk of sexual abuse and exploitation, who may have gone unnoticed during the covid-19 lockdown, are identified and supported as soon as possible.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	73820
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/07/2020 answer text <p>Protecting those at risk from abuse and exploitation is a priority for this Government. We are acutely aware that for some children and young people, the Coronavirus pandemic may have brought with it additional risks and dangers, as well as reducing contact with professionals and trusted adults. This Government is committed to doing everything we can to support and protect those at risk of harm.</p><p> </p><p>That is why, following the Chancellor’s announcement of £750m funding for the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector, the Home Office and Department for Education (DfE) launched a £7.6m joint fund to provide financial hardship relief for national VCSE organisations that support vulnerable children across England and Wales. Further funding will also be dispersed through direct awards due to be finalised imminently, and recipients include organisations working to protect children from sexual exploitation and abuse.</p><p> </p><p>DfE are also funding a £7 million new See, Hear, Respond service led by Barnardo’s<strong>. </strong>This will support children who are hidden from view, not currently receiving support from statutory agencies and at risk of harm and/or experiencing adverse impacts on their health and wellbeing. The service will develop a dynamic sector response that intervenes early, supports and safeguards these children, mitigating against escalation of need and long-lasting harm to children and families.</p><p> </p><p>As part of this the Government made £1.6 million available immediately for the NSPCC to expand and promote its national helpline for adults concerned about the safety of children, alongside disseminating safeguarding messaging to key community partners to raise awareness of how and where they can raise concerns and seek advice about the safety and wellbeing of children.</p><p>Existing programmes, such as our £13.2m Trusted Relationships Fund, have also pivoted their response to sustain support to vulnerable children and young people during the restrictions. Our 11 local authority-led projects working with 10-17 year olds at risk of sexual exploitation and other harms, have adapted their support by: moving this to virtual platforms; creating 24 hour support helplines; engaging in schools where vulnerable children are still attending; planning diversionary activities to engage young people over the summer; and resuming detached youth work where this can be delivered safely.</p><p> </p><p>Building on the Government’s intensive efforts to protect vulnerable people from hidden crimes such as domestic abuse and child sexual abuse during this period, the Prime Minister’s Hidden Harm Summit on 21 May was an opportunity to share emerging best practice at the local and national level and identify areas to go further over the coming months. The Home Office will continue champion and support collaboration across partners, including by continuing to promote a child-centred and trauma-informed policing approach.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 20/07/2020 14:58:22 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1360792

	registered interest
	date	18/10/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Young Offenders
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average time taken has been from charge to disposal for youth criminal cases in each of the last 18 months.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	58390
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2021 answer text <p>The table below shows the average duration (days) from charge to completion for defendants dealt with in youth cases[1] by court type, England and Wales, January 2020 - June 2021 (latest available) [2],[3],[4]</p><table><tbody><tr><td rowspan="2"><p><strong>Month</strong></p></td><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Magistrates' Courts<sup>5</sup></strong></p></td><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Crown Courts<sup>6</sup></strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Median</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Mean</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Median</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Mean</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2020</strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan</p></td><td><p>46</p></td><td><p>65</p></td><td><p>188</p></td><td><p>206</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb</p></td><td><p>42</p></td><td><p>65</p></td><td><p>170</p></td><td><p>184</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar</p></td><td><p>37</p></td><td><p>61</p></td><td><p>166</p></td><td><p>200</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr</p></td><td><p>27</p></td><td><p>52</p></td><td><p>133</p></td><td><p>169</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May</p></td><td><p>74</p></td><td><p>83</p></td><td><p>177</p></td><td><p>211</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun</p></td><td><p>84</p></td><td><p>101</p></td><td><p>225</p></td><td><p>236</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul</p></td><td><p>89</p></td><td><p>101</p></td><td><p>225</p></td><td><p>255</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug</p></td><td><p>96</p></td><td><p>110</p></td><td><p>210</p></td><td><p>271</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep <sup>7</sup></p></td><td><p>93</p></td><td><p>113</p></td><td><p>196</p></td><td><p>230</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct</p></td><td><p>90</p></td><td><p>114</p></td><td><p>223</p></td><td><p>253</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov</p></td><td><p>78</p></td><td><p>111</p></td><td><p>260</p></td><td><p>260</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dec</p></td><td><p>71</p></td><td><p>104</p></td><td><p>245</p></td><td><p>265</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2021</strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan</p></td><td><p>67</p></td><td><p>107</p></td><td><p>186</p></td><td><p>240</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb</p></td><td><p>73</p></td><td><p>111</p></td><td><p>218</p></td><td><p>237</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar</p></td><td><p>60</p></td><td><p>105</p></td><td><p>282</p></td><td><p>310</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr</p></td><td><p>59</p></td><td><p>98</p></td><td><p>273</p></td><td><p>299</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May</p></td><td><p>61</p></td><td><p>103</p></td><td><p>235</p></td><td><p>282</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun</p></td><td><p>59</p></td><td><p>102</p></td><td><p>300</p></td><td><p>346</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong>Notes</strong></p><p>(1) Where a youth panel sat.</p><p>(2) Excludes a small number of cases with identified data quality issues (e.g. no date information recorded), breaches and appeals.</p><p>(3) Data linked using probabilistic recording linking ('Splink') methodology - further information of the matching methodology is available at the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/joined-up-data-in-government-the-future-of-data-linking-methods/splink-mojs-open-source-library-for-probabilistic-record-linkage-at-scale" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/joined-up-data-in-government-the-future-of-data-linking-methods/splink-mojs-open-source-library-for-probabilistic-record-linkage-at-scale</a></p><p>(4) Only one offence is counted for each defendant in the case. If there is more than one offence per defendant that complete on the same day, a set of validation rules applies to select one offence only and these relate to the longest duration, seriousness and the lowest sequence number of the offence.</p><p>(5) Including all criminal cases which have received a verdict and concluded in the specified time period, in the magistrates' courts (excluding cases sent/committed to the Crown Court).</p><p>(6) Including all criminal cases which have received a verdict and concluded in the specified time period in the Crown Court.</p><p>(7) Estimates from Q3 2020 exclude cases which have transitioned to the Common Platform system in the early adopter sites from September 2020.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Source:</strong> Criminal Court Statistics, Data and Evidence as a Service - Courts and People (PQ 58390)</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 09/11/2021 18:13:38 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1362276

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Remote Hearings: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the participation by child defendants in virtual proceedings during the covid-19 outbreak, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the (a) needs of those children, including learning and communication needs, are accurately assessed and (b) provisions necessary to ensure their effective participation are in place.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	60409
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2021 answer text <p>In deciding whether a live video and audio link is appropriate, and in operating these, we have ensured clear support and guidance are in place. This sets out that courts must have regard to the welfare of the child, must be satisfied that the mode of a hearing is compatible with the defendant’s right to a fair trial, and that the child is able to participate effectively. This is set out in criminal procedure rules and criminal practice directions. Effective use of virtual proceedings is also covered in ‘Good Practice for Remote Hearings’ guidance issued by the Judicial College, in the Equal Treatment Bench Book, as well as guidance by HM Court and Tribunal Service (HMCTS). The ways in which video technology is used in criminal proceedings are also kept under regular review by HMCTS.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 26/10/2021 17:03:46 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1365085

	registered interest
	date	01/11/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prosecutions: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of criminal cases in which children were defendants have been summary-only offences in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	67144
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2021 answer text <p>The requested statistics can be found in the table below. They have been extracted from the <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/987715/outcomes-by-offence-2020.xlsx" target="_blank">Outcomes by offence data tool</a>, which can be found on the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2020" target="_blank">Criminal justice system statistics quarterly: December 2020</a> web page.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Calendar Year</p></td><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>2020</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total Summary-only offences</p></td><td><p>17,226</p></td><td><p>14,947</p></td><td><p>12,399</p></td><td><p>9,877</p></td><td><p>6,890</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Summary-only as %ge of all offences</p></td><td><p>48%</p></td><td><p>45%</p></td><td><p>44%</p></td><td><p>39%</p></td><td><p>35%</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 04/11/2021 17:52:08 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1381441

	registered interest
	date	23/11/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Young Offenders: Hearing Impairment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the number of young people in secure training centres have (a) hearing loss and (b) are registered as deaf.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	80297
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2021 answer text <p>All establishments within the youth estate in England and Wales must adhere to the Equality Act 2010, including the duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled persons. Support is also provided for all children and young people with a disability in accordance with the Public Sector Equality Duty.</p><p> </p><p>Data is not currently available on disability for the entire population in youth custody. From April 2021 the Youth Custody Service (YCS) has centrally collected information on all protected characteristics of children and young people held under their care. This includes details on the presence and type of disabilities and long-term health conditions. This information is reviewed and updated when a child or young person is placed into a youth secure estate establishment. As this information was not collected for those admitted prior to April 2021 reliable figures for the whole estate are not available.</p><p> </p><p>Internal information, which is subject to change, is available from April to October 2021. This shows that during that time there have been 581 new admissions to the youth estate. As of 24 November, 389 have responded and ten are recorded as having a disability. The number who are recorded as having a hearing impairment is five or fewer and is not being published to prevent disclosure in accordance with the Data Protection Act, 1998. This information relates purely to admission during the period and may include individuals who have since left the secure estate.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 80298 question first answered 26/11/2021 14:54:17 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1381442

	registered interest
	date	23/11/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Young Offenders: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people in youth detention centres with (a) disabilities and (b) registered disabled.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	80298
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2021 answer text <p>All establishments within the youth estate in England and Wales must adhere to the Equality Act 2010, including the duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled persons. Support is also provided for all children and young people with a disability in accordance with the Public Sector Equality Duty.</p><p> </p><p>Data is not currently available on disability for the entire population in youth custody. From April 2021 the Youth Custody Service (YCS) has centrally collected information on all protected characteristics of children and young people held under their care. This includes details on the presence and type of disabilities and long-term health conditions. This information is reviewed and updated when a child or young person is placed into a youth secure estate establishment. As this information was not collected for those admitted prior to April 2021 reliable figures for the whole estate are not available.</p><p> </p><p>Internal information, which is subject to change, is available from April to October 2021. This shows that during that time there have been 581 new admissions to the youth estate. As of 24 November, 389 have responded and ten are recorded as having a disability. The number who are recorded as having a hearing impairment is five or fewer and is not being published to prevent disclosure in accordance with the Data Protection Act, 1998. This information relates purely to admission during the period and may include individuals who have since left the secure estate.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 80297 question first answered 26/11/2021 14:54:17 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham