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1717018

registered interest
date	09/05/2024
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Drugs: Balkans
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the amount of cocaine that arrived in the UK in (1) 2023, and (2) 2024 to date, as a result of Balkan drug gangs and their criminal networks; and what steps they are taking, together with European partners, to (a) end the illegal activities associated with Balkan drug dealers, and (b) disrupt the supply of cocaine across Europe.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL4518
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2024 answer text <p>Illegal drugs devastate lives, ruin families and damage communities. The Government is committed to tackling these harms, including drug-related gang activity.</p><p>a) Reducing the threat posed by transnational Western Balkans organised crime groups (WBOCGs) is a government priority. We intensified the cooperation with our international partners to maximise the impact of our interventions WBOCGs wherever they are. Our engagements have already resulted in strategic partnerships with countries such as France, Germany, Italy, and Albania. In addition, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has well established relationships with law enforcement partners across Europe, as well as with Europol and Interpol, which include regular exchanges on organised crime with links to the Western Balkans. We are also seeking to improve criminal records sharing arrangements and law enforcement cooperation between the UK and the Western Balkan countries.</p><p>b) Our ten-year Drug Strategy, From Harm to Hope, sets out a whole system approach to combat illicit drugs. As part of this the Home Office has committed £300m of dedicated investment over three years (April 2022 – March 2025) to tackle every phase of the drug supply chain and make it considerably harder for criminal gangs to operate. With this funding we are supporting intelligence-led approaches to interdict and seize drugs as they cross the UK border and prevent criminal groups from bringing drugs to our streets. Across the whole of the UK, the NCA, Border Force, and local police are working in partnership, using intelligence and technology to secure our borders against drug trafficking. We are also funding upstream activity to tackle overseas drug supply, which is aimed at disrupting the criminal networks seeking to traffic illegal drugs to the UK. This includes building close enforcement partnerships with law enforcement agencies in mainland Europe.</p><p>The NCA has estimated that the UK consumes 117 tonnes of cocaine each year. We do not hold data on the amount of cocaine arriving in the UK as a result of Balkan OCGs. In the financial year ending 2023, police and Border Force seized 18.58 tonnes of powder cocaine, the second largest quantity of the substance since records began.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom question first answered 23/05/2024 15:50:25 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1715711

registered interest
date	02/05/2024
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Illegal Migration Act 2023 and Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to be able to make a full value for money assessment of (1) the Illegal Migration Act 2023, and (2) the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024; and when they expect to be able to assess with certainty the level of deterrent effect of this legislation.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL4340
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2024 answer text <p>Both the Illegal Migration Act 2023 and the Safety of Rwanda Act 2024 aim to put a stop to illegal migration into the UK by removing the incentive to make dangerous small boat crossings.</p><p>The Home Office has published its Economic Impact Assessment for the Illegal Migration Act <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fimpact-assessments-covering-migration-policy&amp;data=05%7C02%7CRobert.Morgan%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C1fbf1380403f4211837808dc742057ad%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C638512929455690994%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=%2FZCrUioh5vzTac3cNrTkiai1MJDrMGPkmHxWeqk%2BMs0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/impact-assessments-covering-migration-policy</a> and Safety of Rwanda Act <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fsafety-of-rwanda-asylum-and-immigration-bill-impact-assessments&amp;data=05%7C02%7CRobert.Morgan%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C1fbf1380403f4211837808dc742057ad%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C638512929455701411%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=xE4G4xTYl0XvbSksYtZviZeOhB2JjQpLLY5sPQ%2FaVKg%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill: impact assessments - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom question first answered 17/05/2024 11:37:21 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1715712

registered interest
date	02/05/2024
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: Democratic Republic of Congo
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether asylum seekers arriving in the UK unlawfully from the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be subject to removal to the Republic of Rwanda, under the provisions of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL4341
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2024 answer text <p>Anyone in the UK illegally, including those who arrived through illegal, dangerous, and unnecessary means, may be in scope for removal to Rwanda.</p><p> </p><p>Only those who face a real and imminent risk of serious and irreversible harm based on their individual circumstances will be able to appeal decisions in the UK.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom question first answered 17/05/2024 11:28:11 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1694827

registered interest
date	08/03/2024
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Bassem Abudagga
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking in the case of the Palestinian academic Bassem Abudagga, currently studying for his PhD at York St John University, to expedite the visa application process so that his wife and two young children can come from Gaza to the UK.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL3157
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2024 answer text <p>We strive to conclude cases within the published guidance and information on study processing times and service standards can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-decision-waiting-times-applications-outside-the-uk#faster" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-decision-waiting-times-applications-outside-the-uk#faster</a>.</p><p>Unfortunately, UKVI cannot comment on individual cases or provide information regarding UK visa applications via this channel.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom question first answered 22/03/2024 12:19:57 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1690193

registered interest
date	19/02/2024
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Suicide: Greater London
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many suspicious, unnatural, untimely or unexplained deaths have been investigated by the Metropolitan Police since 2010 in which they ultimately determined the cause of death to be suicide, rather than a criminal act.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL2557
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2024 answer text <p>The Home Office does not hold the requested information. The Home Office will only receive information on a death if a criminal offence has been recorded by the police.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom question first answered 04/03/2024 16:59:00 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1682243

registered interest
date	15/01/2024
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Bibby Stockholm: Standards
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to (1) improve the mental and physical health of asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm barge, following the death of Leonard Farruku on 12 December 2023; and (2) ensure that the process of assessing living conditions on the Bibby Stockholm is sufficiently transparent.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL1582
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2024 answer text <p>This tragic incident is subject to an ongoing investigation by the police and Coroner and therefore we cannot comment upon this or other individual cases. It is right that the facts surrounding this are established in the appropriate legal manner.</p><p> </p><p>The welfare of asylum seekers is always a priority. The Home Office ensures that accommodation provided is adequate and meets the regulatory standards. We assess individuals' suitability to reside at Portland before moving them on board, and each person's suitability is assessed at regular intervals. If anyone is no longer suitable for any reason, they will be moved to alternative accommodation.</p><p> </p><p>Accommodation providers ensure that guidance and training provided to staff regarding the identification and management of vulnerable asylum seekers with specific needs, or at-risk asylum seekers, is kept up to date and aligns with best practice and safeguarding processes.</p><p> </p><p>The medical facility on the barge is staffed 5 days a week to provide an onsite primary healthcare service. The medical team has previous experience of working with asylum seekers, and refer anyone they are concerned about to the relevant specialist health providers, and discuss (in line with GDPR requirements), their advice with staff.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom question first answered 29/01/2024 15:28:37 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1676504

registered interest
date	07/12/2023
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Immigration: Personal Income
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what is the percentage of UK citizens who earn above £38,700; and whether it is an intended consequence of the plan to "cut migration levels and to curb abuse of the immigration system", as announced by the Home Secretary on 4 December, to allow only UK citizens who earn above the £38,700 threshold to marry a non-British spouse and to sponsor them to live in the UK from April 2024.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL987
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/12/2023 answer text <p>At the current Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) level of £18,600, 75% of the UK working population (based on ASHE earnings data) meet the MIR level. At the higher MIR of £38,700 – the median salary level for those on the skilled worker route, and all else being constant, around 30% of the UK working population could meet the threshold based on earnings alone. The MIR will be increased in incremental stages to give predictability. In Spring 2024, we will raise the threshold to £29,000, that is the 25<sup>th</sup> percentile of earnings for jobs which are eligible for Skilled Worker visas, moving to the 40<sup>th</sup> percentile (currently £34,500) and finally the 50<sup>th</sup> percentile (currently £38,700 and the level at which the general skilled worker threshold is set) in the final stage of implementation.</p><p>Family life must not be established here at the taxpayer’s expense and family migrants must be able to integrate if they are to play a full part in British life. The MIR has not been increased for over a decade and no longer reflects the level of income required by a family to ensure they are self-sufficient and do not need to rely on public funds. It is intended that this change will contribute to reducing net migration when it is introduced in spring 2024.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom question first answered 21/12/2023 15:16:33 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian