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1134043

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Fees and Charges
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will provide in cash terms the value of the charge levied upon visa and settlement applicants for having documents (a) scanned and (b) photocopied by his Department.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	268423
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>There is no charge by the Home Office levied upon visa and settlement applicants for having documents (a) scanned and (b) photocopied</p><p><br>The vast majority of UKVI customers applying online have the option of uploading their supporting evidence themselves, for free. If customers choose not to use this self-upload function, then they have the option to have their documents scanned by the commercial partner at the visa application centre or service point when they attend their appointment. In most locations an additional charge is applicable for this service.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 08/07/2019 14:21:03 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1149493

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2019
	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, whether her Department plans to increase the number of ID scanning centres for EU citizens applying to the EU settlement scheme available in Wales.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	508
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2019 answer text <p>EU citizens make a huge contribution to our economy and society, and we want them to stay. The EU Settlement Scheme enables them to do so.</p><p>The application process for the EU Settlement Scheme is straightforward and user-friendly, and is accessible on any smartphone, tablet or computer using internet browsers.</p><p>There are multiple ways to freely have identity documents checked, including using the EU Exit: ID Document Check app or by posting identity documents to the Home Office. There are also over 80 locations nationwide, provided by local authorities, where applicants have their passport scanned and verified.</p><p>The ID document scanning service is provided at the discretion of each local authority. The viability and cost of offering the ID document scanning service in each location is a matter for each local authority. There are currently four local authorities participating in Wales; Bridgend, Caerphilly, Ceredigion and Rhondda Cynon Taf.</p><p>The Home Office would encourage as many local authorities as possible to offer this service, and we continue to work with local government bodies across the UK to increase the provision of this service.</p><p>Participating local authorities do not receive funding from central Government to provide this service. Charges for using this service, payable directly to the local authority, can be set by the local authority to cover the cost of providing the service. Some local authorities have elected to provide the service for free to residents, whilst others have elected to set a fee.</p><p>Bridgend: The service is free of charge to residents of Bridgend County Borough, and costs £14 for non-residents.<a href="https://www.bridgend.gov.uk/my-council/council-priorities-and-performance/preparing-for-brexit/" target="_blank">https://www.bridgend.gov.uk/my-council/council-priorities-and-performance/preparing-for-brexit/</a></p><p>Caerphilly: The cost of the EU Settlement Service is £14 (including VAT). <a href="https://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/Services/Births,-marriages,-deaths/EU-Settlement-Scheme" target="_blank">https://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/Services/Births,-marriages,-deaths/EU-Settlement-Scheme</a></p><p>Ceredigion: A fee of £14 per transaction will be required. In line with other authorities who deliver this service, Ceredigion County Council Staff are exempt from the fee.<a href="https://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/resident/news/council-to-provide-support-for-european-union-settlement-scheme-applicants/" target="_blank">https://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/resident/news/council-to-provide-support-for-european-union-settlement-scheme-applicants/</a></p><p>Rhondda Cynon Taf (Pontypridd): <em>No fee listed on their website. Assumed free to all users.</em> <a href="https://www.rctcbc.gov.uk/EN/Resident/BirthsMarriagesandDeaths/EUSettlementSchemeIdentityVerification/EUSettlementSchemeIdentityVerification.aspx" target="_blank">https://www.rctcbc.gov.uk/EN/Resident/BirthsMarriagesandDeaths/EUSettlementSchemeIdentityVerification/EUSettlementSchemeIdentityVerification.aspx</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis grouped question UIN 513 question first answered 21/10/2019 16:02:51 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1149495

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2019
	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, whether her Department plans to make the EUSS App available on iOS smartphones.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	509
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2019 answer text <p>EU citizens make a huge contribution to our economy and society, and we want them to stay. The EU Settlement Scheme enables them to do so. The ‘EU Exit: Identity Document Check’ app is an optional aspect of the service which allows applicants to prove their identity remotely using their biometric identity document and a smartphone device.</p><p>We have been working closely with Apple over a number of months to make the app available on iPhones and have now released a beta version of the iOS app, initially available on iPhone models 8 and above.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 21/10/2019 15:00:54 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1149497

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2019
	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, what recent estimate she has made of the number of elderly and vulnerable applicants to the EU Settlement Scheme; and what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of support provided to those applicants.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	511
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2019 answer text <p>The number of applications to the EU Settled Status scheme are regularly monitored and reviewed against forecasts.</p><p>There is a range of direct and indirect support available for vulnerable EU citizens. This ranges from the telephone helpline available where citizens and their carers and helpers can discuss any aspect of the application with a trained caseworker at any point during the process.</p><p>For those who need assistance with IT, the Home Office has put in place an Assisted Digital solution which provides support over the phone, at one of around 300 local centres across the UK or at home with a trained tutor.</p><p>We have also provided up to £9 million of grant funding in this financial year to 57 voluntary and community sector organisations across the UK. These organisations are being funded and supported by the Home Office to deliver practical assistance to vulnerable or at-risk EU citizens in applying to the scheme. More than 40 of the organisations included the provision of support for older people in their bid for funding. Further information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-settlement-scheme-community-support-for-vulnerable-citizens/list-of-organisations</p><p> </p><p>We have also provided a paper application form for those whose specific individual needs require it.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office is working with a range of other government departments and stakeholders to identify how we can best support vulnerable adults with significant care and support needs, including those in care homes.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 30/10/2019 16:45:33 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1149499

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2019
	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, what the cost to the applicant is to the individual of the use the scanning equipment for the EU Settlement Scheme in each of the four centres in Wales.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	513
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2019 answer text <p>EU citizens make a huge contribution to our economy and society, and we want them to stay. The EU Settlement Scheme enables them to do so.</p><p>The application process for the EU Settlement Scheme is straightforward and user-friendly, and is accessible on any smartphone, tablet or computer using internet browsers.</p><p>There are multiple ways to freely have identity documents checked, including using the EU Exit: ID Document Check app or by posting identity documents to the Home Office. There are also over 80 locations nationwide, provided by local authorities, where applicants have their passport scanned and verified.</p><p>The ID document scanning service is provided at the discretion of each local authority. The viability and cost of offering the ID document scanning service in each location is a matter for each local authority. There are currently four local authorities participating in Wales; Bridgend, Caerphilly, Ceredigion and Rhondda Cynon Taf.</p><p>The Home Office would encourage as many local authorities as possible to offer this service, and we continue to work with local government bodies across the UK to increase the provision of this service.</p><p>Participating local authorities do not receive funding from central Government to provide this service. Charges for using this service, payable directly to the local authority, can be set by the local authority to cover the cost of providing the service. Some local authorities have elected to provide the service for free to residents, whilst others have elected to set a fee.</p><p>Bridgend: The service is free of charge to residents of Bridgend County Borough, and costs £14 for non-residents.<a href="https://www.bridgend.gov.uk/my-council/council-priorities-and-performance/preparing-for-brexit/" target="_blank">https://www.bridgend.gov.uk/my-council/council-priorities-and-performance/preparing-for-brexit/</a></p><p>Caerphilly: The cost of the EU Settlement Service is £14 (including VAT). <a href="https://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/Services/Births,-marriages,-deaths/EU-Settlement-Scheme" target="_blank">https://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/Services/Births,-marriages,-deaths/EU-Settlement-Scheme</a></p><p>Ceredigion: A fee of £14 per transaction will be required. In line with other authorities who deliver this service, Ceredigion County Council Staff are exempt from the fee.<a href="https://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/resident/news/council-to-provide-support-for-european-union-settlement-scheme-applicants/" target="_blank">https://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/resident/news/council-to-provide-support-for-european-union-settlement-scheme-applicants/</a></p><p>Rhondda Cynon Taf (Pontypridd): <em>No fee listed on their website. Assumed free to all users.</em> <a href="https://www.rctcbc.gov.uk/EN/Resident/BirthsMarriagesandDeaths/EUSettlementSchemeIdentityVerification/EUSettlementSchemeIdentityVerification.aspx" target="_blank">https://www.rctcbc.gov.uk/EN/Resident/BirthsMarriagesandDeaths/EUSettlementSchemeIdentityVerification/EUSettlementSchemeIdentityVerification.aspx</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis grouped question UIN 508 question first answered 21/10/2019 16:02:51 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1149501

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2019
	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, how many people in Wales who have applied for status under the EU Settlement Scheme have (a) received settled status (b) been declined, (c) received pre-settled status, and (d) applications that are unresolved.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	515
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2019 answer text <p>Published information of EUSS applications concluded by type and UK country to 30 June 2019 can be found in ‘EU Settlement Scheme quarterly statistics’ at <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/826751/eu-settlement-scheme-quarterly-statistics-tables-28-august-2018-to-30-june-2019.ods" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/826751/eu-settlement-scheme-quarterly-statistics-tables-28-august-2018-to-30-june-2019.ods</a></p><p>Updated quarterly statistics to 30 September 2019 are planned for publication in November 2019.</p><p>The latest published information on EU Settlement Scheme applications concluded for the UK can be found in the Home Office’s ‘EU Settlement Scheme monthly statistics’ available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/eu-settlement-scheme-statistics-september-2019" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/eu-settlement-scheme-statistics-september-2019</a>. It was noted in this release that, as of 30 September 2019, two applications have been refused on suitability grounds. Of these, one application was refused in August 2019 and one application was refused in September 2019.</p><p>The Home Office does not currently publish statistics on EU Settlement Scheme applications that are in the process of being resolved but is committed to publishing more detailed quarterly statistics on the EU Settlement Scheme. Home Office statisticians are currently considering the content of the next quarterly release.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 21/10/2019 15:38:51 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1167171

	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	Home Office: Written Questions
	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 answer Name Day Question 511 on Immigration: EU Nationals which was tabled on 15 October 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	7084
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>The response for UIN 511 was answered on 31st October 2019.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 04/11/2019 17:24:40 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1172923

	registered interest
	date	23/01/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Immigration: EU Nationals
	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 increase the proportion of EU27 citizens in Wales who apply for settled status.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	7123
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2020 answer text <p>The latest published information shows more than 3.6 million EU Settlement Scheme applications had been received up to 31 May 2020. Of these, 59,400 applications had been received in Wales. The latest figures can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/eu-settlement-scheme-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/eu-settlement-scheme-statistics</a>.</p><p>In order to ensure resident EEA and Swiss nationals, and their family members, understand how and by when to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, the Home Office has put in place a comprehensive communications and engagement plan, using all available channels to reach our audiences – such as marketing, presentations, email updates, toolkits and webinars.</p><p>The Home Office has delivered a £4 million marketing campaign to encourage resident EEA and Swiss nationals to apply. During the first burst of campaign activity billboards were placed in 186 locations in Wales with 50% of these posters in Welsh and 50% in English.</p><p>No-one will be left behind, which is why we are working in partnership with representatives of vulnerable groups and other expert organisations to make sure the right level of support is available. This includes £9 million of funding awarded last year to 57 voluntary and community sector organisations across the UK to assist vulnerable and at-risk EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members. Five organisations are providing support for EEA and Swiss citizens in Wales: Newport Mind Association, Tros Gynnal Plant, International Organisation for Migration, Royal Association for Deaf People, and Rights of Women.</p><p>There are multiple ways applicants can have their identity documents checked as part of the application process, including using the EU Exit: ID Document Check smartphone app or by posting identity documents to the Home Office.</p><p> </p><p>The identity document scanner locations are currently closed due to the COVID pandemic, following the latest public health guidance to protect staff. However, the Home Office and its delivery partners are keeping this situation under constant review and will endeavour to reinstate identity document scanner locations to their original capacity in line with public health guidance.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 7124 question first answered 24/06/2020 16:07:38 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1172924

	registered interest
	date	23/01/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Immigration: EU Nationals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will increase the number of scanning centres in Wales to improve access for EU27 citizens applying for settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	7124
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2020 answer text <p>The latest published information shows more than 3.6 million EU Settlement Scheme applications had been received up to 31 May 2020. Of these, 59,400 applications had been received in Wales. The latest figures can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/eu-settlement-scheme-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/eu-settlement-scheme-statistics</a>.</p><p>In order to ensure resident EEA and Swiss nationals, and their family members, understand how and by when to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, the Home Office has put in place a comprehensive communications and engagement plan, using all available channels to reach our audiences – such as marketing, presentations, email updates, toolkits and webinars.</p><p>The Home Office has delivered a £4 million marketing campaign to encourage resident EEA and Swiss nationals to apply. During the first burst of campaign activity billboards were placed in 186 locations in Wales with 50% of these posters in Welsh and 50% in English.</p><p>No-one will be left behind, which is why we are working in partnership with representatives of vulnerable groups and other expert organisations to make sure the right level of support is available. This includes £9 million of funding awarded last year to 57 voluntary and community sector organisations across the UK to assist vulnerable and at-risk EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members. Five organisations are providing support for EEA and Swiss citizens in Wales: Newport Mind Association, Tros Gynnal Plant, International Organisation for Migration, Royal Association for Deaf People, and Rights of Women.</p><p>There are multiple ways applicants can have their identity documents checked as part of the application process, including using the EU Exit: ID Document Check smartphone app or by posting identity documents to the Home Office.</p><p> </p><p>The identity document scanner locations are currently closed due to the COVID pandemic, following the latest public health guidance to protect staff. However, the Home Office and its delivery partners are keeping this situation under constant review and will endeavour to reinstate identity document scanner locations to their original capacity in line with public health guidance.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 7123 question first answered 24/06/2020 16:07:38 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1173828

	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	Home Office: Recruitment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff were recruited by her Department in the last twelve months to work on preparations for the UK leaving the EU; and what the Border Force budget has been for (a) additional permanent staff members and (b) agency workers in each financial year since 2015-16.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	8967
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2020 answer text <p>The department has been continually assessing the resourcing levels required to prepare for EU Exit across all possible scenarios, developing contingency plans in line with government policy. It is not possible to provide the number of staff who have been recruited to work on preparations for the UK leaving the EU as staff are generally engaged across a range of workstreams, which will include business as usual activity as well as EU Exit preparations, across all scenarios.</p><p> </p><p>Over the last 12 months the department has adapted to the different scenarios in preparation for the UK leaving the EU and our staffing numbers have fluctuated to meet these demands.</p><p>The latest published staffing and finance figures for Border Force can be found in the Home Office Annual Report for 2018-2019 on page 85 at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-2019" target="_blank"><em>https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-2019</em></a></p><p>The previous published staffing and financial figures for Border Force since 2015 to 2018 can be found at the following links:</p><p><em>2015-2016: </em><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2015-to-2016" target="_blank"><em>https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2015-to-2016</em></a></p><p><em>2016-2017: </em><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2016-to-2017" target="_blank"><em>https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2016-to-2017</em></a></p><p><em>2017-2018: </em><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2017-to-2018" target="_blank"><em>https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2017-to-2018</em></a></p><p><em>2018-2019: </em><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-2019" target="_blank"><em>https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-2019</em></a></p><p> </p><p>Excluding EU Exit, Border Force’s gross resource budget for 2019-20 is £488m. This includes an income target of £19m, which means a net allocation of £469m.</p><p>Border Force has received a total of c.£182m for EU Exit preparations in 2019/20. (£141m Resource and £41M Capital)</p><p>Border Force originally received funding, based on a Deal, of £100m; this funding was to fund recruitment for full customs compliance by the end of 2020. The recruitment and training for this uplift of permanent staff has completed bringing the Border Force FTE to over 8,700 from 7,700 in March 2018.</p><p>The additional £41m Resource funding provided throughout 2019-20 enabled further recruitment with Border Force expecting to reach c9,300 FTE by March 2020.</p><p>Border Force received a total £82.1m for EU Exit preparations in 2018/19 (£72.1m Resource and £10m Capital)</p><p>Border Force received a total of £3.2m for EU Exit preparations in 2017/18 (£1.7m Resource and £1.5m Capital)</p><p>Budgets for 20-21 cannot be confirmed as they remain subject to final confirmation.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 03/02/2020 18:01:31 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams