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1186952

registered interest
date	23/03/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: Information
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 improve the accuracy of (a) information gathered during interviews with asylum applicants and (b) asylum decisions.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	33517
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2020 answer text <p>Asylum operations is working to improve the quality and accuracy of decision-making to ensure that we get decisions right first time. This includes assuring that we properly consider all evidence provided by applicants in order to reduce the proportion of allowed appeals, analysing the reasons for allowed appeals and using this to inform and further improve guidance and training for decision making staff.</p><p>All decision makers receive extensive training on how to interview asylum seekers in a sensitive way and consider the claim for sustainable decisions to be reached. We ensure that claimants are given every opportunity to disclose information relevant to their claim before a decision is taken, even where that information may be sensitive or difficult to disclose.</p><p>UKVI has an internal audit process which assesses the quality of decisions, interviews and the application of Home Office policy. We have Senior Case Worker assessments as well as independent auditors from the Central Operations Assurance Team who audit asylum cases and provide quarterly reports.</p><p>It is Home Office policy to digitally record asylum interviews unless the exemptions policy applies, a copy of the interview record is given to the applicant and legal representative if present.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 31/03/2020 14:17:07 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1186953

registered interest
date	23/03/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: Information
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 improve information provided to people seeking asylum.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	33518
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2020 answer text <p>The Home Office issues an information leaflet to asylum claimants at the point of claim which outlines the asylum process and the claimant’s responsibilities within that process. This information leaflet is periodically reviewed.</p><p>Independent guidance and advice are also available to asylum claimants provided by Migrant Help. Migrant Help are present in initial accommodation where destitute asylum seekers are initially housed and their services can also be accessed via their website or by phone. Their website is available in multiple languages, and the helpline is free and accessible in multiple languages.</p><p>UKVI work closely with our key partners and stakeholders to seek and share feedback to identify ways in which we can improve the quality of experience of people seeking asylum in the UK. We have recently set up a Customer Experience Management Team, based across the UK, who will work closely on a local level with stakeholders, to identify key areas to improve the overall experience for people seeking asylum in the UK.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 33522 question first answered 31/03/2020 14:19:17 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1186954

registered interest
date	23/03/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Legal Aid Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to review the eligibility for legal aid.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	33519
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2020 answer text <p>The Government announced a review of the legal aid means test on 7 February 2019, as part of the Legal Support Action Plan.</p><p> </p><p>The review is in progress, bringing together data, evidence and expertise, and liaising with experts from across the field to explore potential improvements to the system.</p><p> </p><p>The review is considering the full range of means-testing criteria, including the applicable thresholds for legal aid entitlement and their interaction with wider criteria.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 31/03/2020 12:37:40 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1186956

registered interest
date	23/03/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: Employment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to grant asylum applicants (a) the right to work after six months waiting for a decision on their application and (b) access to English language classes from application.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	33521
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2020 answer text <p>Asylum seekers can work in the UK if their claim has been outstanding for 12 months, through no fault of their own. Those allowed to work are restricted to jobs on the Shortage Occupation List, which is published by the Home Office and based on expert advice from the Migration Advisory Committee.</p><p>It is important to distinguish between those who need protection and economic migrants, who can apply for a work visa under the Immigration Rules. Our wider immigration policy would be undermined if migrants could bypass work visa routes by lodging unfounded asylum claims.</p><p>Asylum seeker right to work is a complex issue and is under review. It is crucial we take the time to get this right. We are listening carefully to the arguments and considering the evidence put forward on the issue. Work on the review is ongoing.</p><p>After six months we provide a 50% contribution to the costs of English language classes for asylum seekers in certain circumstances. Those granted refugee status are entitled to access fully funded English language tuition if they are unemployed and in receipt of certain benefits.</p><p> </p><p>Currently around half of those who seek asylum in the UK are found not to need international protection. Therefore, rather than invest in integration for those who may not qualify for international protection, this Government’s priority is to focus our efforts and resources to support those who most need it.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 31/03/2020 14:18:08 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1186957

registered interest
date	23/03/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to monitor the quality of experience of people seeking asylum in the UK.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	33522
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2020 answer text <p>The Home Office issues an information leaflet to asylum claimants at the point of claim which outlines the asylum process and the claimant’s responsibilities within that process. This information leaflet is periodically reviewed.</p><p>Independent guidance and advice are also available to asylum claimants provided by Migrant Help. Migrant Help are present in initial accommodation where destitute asylum seekers are initially housed and their services can also be accessed via their website or by phone. Their website is available in multiple languages, and the helpline is free and accessible in multiple languages.</p><p>UKVI work closely with our key partners and stakeholders to seek and share feedback to identify ways in which we can improve the quality of experience of people seeking asylum in the UK. We have recently set up a Customer Experience Management Team, based across the UK, who will work closely on a local level with stakeholders, to identify key areas to improve the overall experience for people seeking asylum in the UK.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 33518 question first answered 31/03/2020 14:19:17 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1186992

registered interest
date	23/03/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how (a) teachers and (b) other school staff will be deployed between schools due to school closures during the covid-19 outbreak; what powers (i) local authorities and (ii) academy trusts will have during that period; and what steps he is taking to ensure that there is effective co-ordination between those organisations and (A) nurseries and (B) other childcare providers.
tabling member constituency	Ashton-under-Lyne
tabling member printed	Angela Rayner
uin	33568
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2020 answer text <p>We understand that this is a very difficult time for teachers – we are asking a lot of them and all school staff to help the country fight this virus.</p><p>Once schools have assessed their demand and capacity, they should liaise with their local authority to establish whether any staff need to be moved to an alternative setting. We have set out in guidance (published 22 March 2020) that local authorities will need to work closely with educational settings to ensure sufficient provision is available across the local area. Local authorities and educational settings may need to redeploy staff, such as teachers, support staff or other critical workers. They may need to do this across the usual boundaries of maintained, academy, college or other status to ensure the right staff are in the right settings.</p><p>Parliament has passed the Coronavirus Act 2020, which includes powers to direct schools and other educational settings, including academies and independent schools, to close, open, re-open or remain open. The Act allows my right hon. Friend, Secretary of State for Education, to delegate these powers to local authorities. The Act also supports schools to stay open by granting powers to the Secretary of State to relax certain elements of education law which would be impossible to fulfil in the current circumstances.</p><p>Local authorities are also responsible for coordinating the response to these new arrangements and we expect them to work with schools, nurseries, childminders and others to ensure that different settings are supported to stay open wherever possible, taking into account their circumstances and cohort to ensure there is adequate provision.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 31/03/2020 15:45:53 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4356 label Biography information for Angela Rayner

1186996

registered interest
date	23/03/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pupils: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his Department's guidance, Guidance for schools, childcare providers, colleges and local authorities in England on maintaining educational provision, published on 19 March 2020, whether children are eligible to attend school where only one parent is defined as a key worker during the period of school closures due to covid-19.
tabling member constituency	Ashton-under-Lyne
tabling member printed	Angela Rayner
uin	33570
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2020 answer text <p>The Department has recently published guidance for parents and carers in relation to the closure of educational settings, which is available here:<br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers</a>.</p><p>The current guidance confirms that children with at least one parent or carer who is critical to the COVID-19 response can attend an education or childcare setting if necessary. However, many families with a parent or carer working in critical sectors will be able to ensure their child is kept at home. Every child who can be safely cared for at home should be, to limit the chance of the virus spreading.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 31/03/2020 11:37:12 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4356 label Biography information for Angela Rayner

1186998

registered interest
date	23/03/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the required pupil to teacher ratio will be in schools during the period of school closures due to the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Ashton-under-Lyne
tabling member printed	Angela Rayner
uin	33572
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2020 answer text <p>To help ensure that the risk of COVID-19 spread for both staff and children is as low as possible, we have asked schools to ensure class sizes reflect the numbers of teaching staff available and are kept as small as possible.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 31/03/2020 13:32:05 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4356 label Biography information for Angela Rayner

1186999

registered interest
date	23/03/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Academies: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, will Academy conversions be suspended during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Ashton-under-Lyne
tabling member printed	Angela Rayner
uin	33573
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2020 answer text <p>The Department is focused on the welfare of pupils and all those who work in the education system at this time. Ofsted has currently suspended routine inspections so the Department will not be issuing new academy orders to schools judged inadequate.</p><p>For schools which were due to convert on 1 April 2020, where possible these conversions will still proceed to reduce uncertainty over the status of these schools.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 31/03/2020 15:42:01 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4356 label Biography information for Angela Rayner

1187001

registered interest
date	23/03/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Children: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure vulnerable children living in temporary accommodation (a) with shared toilets and kitchens, and (b) that is over-crowded are not at put at additional risk of contracting covid-19.
tabling member constituency	Croydon North
tabling member printed	Steve Reed
uin	33559
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2020 answer text <p>Time spent in temporary accommodation ensures that no family is without a roof over their head, and this is particularly important when we are dealing with the impacts of Covid-19.</p><p>Housing authorities must ensure that the accommodation is suitable for the applicant and their household until the duty ends (for example, until they are offered settled accommodation or they are no longer eligible for assistance).</p><p>If you are living in accommodation that you share with other people, or if you share facilities with other people, you should follow current PHE guidance on self-isolation and self-distancing within the home.</p><p>If you are having to leave accommodation, you should get in touch with your local authority</p><p>You can find Government guidance on cleaning your house to minimise the risk of infection here: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fcovid-19-decontamination-in-non-healthcare-settings&amp;data=02%7C01%7CParliamentary%40communities.gov.uk%7Cff8bc3313b8646044af008d7d4a17cba%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637211662349728968&amp;sdata=NK56xGRd9T%2BXsDobRu%2B3D8IGJQsrsNGl9KPQ1hgdqOc%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-decontamination-in-non-healthcare-settings</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 31/03/2020 13:38:12 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed