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346849

	registered interest
	date	27/05/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Migrants: English Language
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consultation was conducted with stakeholders affected by the reforms for delivery of approved English language qualifications for settlement and citizenship effective from November 2015; how the decision was communicated to teaching providers and learners; and whether an impact assessment was undertaken.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Northfield
	tabling member printed	Richard Burden
	uin	1
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/06/2015 answer text <p>The possibility of changes to the English language requirement for settlement and nationality was discussed as part of the SELT procurement process. Letters announcing the change to test arrangements have been sent to a range of organisations. As this change relates to the implementation of existing policy, no formal impact assessment was required.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 03/06/2015 10:35:11 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	301 label Biography information for Richard Burden

1667493

	registered interest
	date	07/11/2023
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Crown Dependencies: Companies
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of when (a) the Bailiwick of Jersey, (b) the Bailiwick of Guernsey and (c) the Isle of Man will implement a publicly accessible register of beneficial ownership.
	tabling member constituency	Barking
	tabling member printed	Dame Margaret Hodge
	uin	10
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2023 answer text <p>In 2019, the Bailiwick of Jersey, Bailiwick of Guernsey and Isle of Man (the Crown Dependencies) committed to implement publicly accessible registers of beneficial ownership in line with principles adopted by the European Union.</p><p>In December 2022, following the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), the Crown Dependencies issued a statement announcing that they were pausing work on their public commitments while they sought legal advice.</p><p>Currently 14 EU Member States allow public access to their beneficial ownership registers. Gibraltar has maintained a publicly accessible beneficial ownership register since 2020 and has not noted any negative economic impacts resulting from implementation of its public register.</p><p>The UK and the Crown Dependencies have differing legal views on implementing publicly accessible registers in light of the CJEU ruling. The UK is satisfied with the lawfulness of our own publicly accessible registers and continues to believe that the CDs could legally implement public registers of their own.</p><p>The Home Office is actively engaging the Crown Dependencies to understand their position. We will keep Parliament updated in the weeks ahead.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Tonbridge and Malling answering member printed Tom Tugendhat question first answered 05/12/2023 15:24:26 answering member 4462 label Biography information for Tom Tugendhat
	tabling member	140 label Biography information for Dame Margaret Hodge

1546884

	registered interest
	date	30/11/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Military Aid: Ukraine
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential risk of weapons sent to the Ukrainian armed forces coming into the possession of organised crime gangs.
	tabling member constituency	East Lothian
	tabling member printed	Kenny MacAskill
	uin	100000
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2022 answer text <p>This Government is committed to tackling the threat posed by trafficking and the misuse of illicit small arms and light weapons which play a key role in facilitating Organised Crime Group (OCG) activity.</p><p>According to NAC Threat assessments it remains highly unlikely that the conflict in Ukraine is impacting on the Serious and organised crime small arms and light weapons threat to the UK. Despite the number of small arms and light weapons available in conflict zones, very few types available pre-conflict or donated by western governments are used by criminals in the UK.</p><p>At the end of the conflict, it is a realistic possibility that some small arms and light weapons will be traded on the European criminal marketplace. The threat is being monitored closely by agencies, in close cooperation with European Partners such as Europol. We are adopting a multi-agency approach to further develop an understanding of the illicit firearms trade and lessons learnt from previous events.</p> answering member constituency Tonbridge and Malling answering member printed Tom Tugendhat question first answered 05/12/2022 17:39:17 answering member 4462 label Biography information for Tom Tugendhat
	tabling member	4772 label Biography information for Kenny MacAskill

1546863

	registered interest
	date	30/11/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Ascension Island and Cyprus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consideration has been given to using (a) Ascension Island and (b) the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia for the offshore processing of asylum seekers.
	tabling member constituency	Peterborough
	tabling member printed	Paul Bristow
	uin	100015
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2022 answer text <p>While individuals are endangering lives making perilous journeys, every possible option must be considered to reduce the draw of the UK.</p><p>We are in constant dialogue with a range of partners about how we can work together. We will not get drawn into speculation on potential options for offshoring of asylum processing or other outsourcing arrangements.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Newark answering member printed Robert Jenrick question first answered 08/12/2022 16:33:49 answering member 4320 label Biography information for Robert Jenrick
	tabling member	4792 label Biography information for Paul Bristow

759395

	registered interest
	date	11/09/2017
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Migrants: Detainees
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations her Department has received from representatives of churches and other faith groups on time limits for immigration detention; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	10012
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2017 answer text <p>Representations have been received from the Convenor (Church and Society) of the Church of Scotland which, amongst other things, called for the introduction of a time limit on immigration detention.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 23/11/2017 17:43:15 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

418474

	registered interest
	date	11/09/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Motor Vehicles: Theft
	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 take steps to reduce the number of thefts of hi-tech vehicles.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	10018
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/09/2015 answer text <p>Vehicle crime is at its lowest level since 1995 and theft of vehicles has fallen over a third since 2010 according to the Independent Crime Survey for England and Wales. We are not complacent, however, and we remain alert to changes in trends. We are working very closely with the police and industry on the issue of electronic vehicle theft to ensure that, together, we have up to date responses in place.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 16/09/2015 17:00:58 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

759394

	registered interest
	date	11/09/2017
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Cryptocurrencies: Crime
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the extent of the potential use of cryptocurrencies for criminal purposes; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	East Yorkshire
	tabling member printed	Sir Greg Knight
	uin	10018
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/10/2017 answer text <p>In the National Strategic Assessment published by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in 2017, the NCA assessed that cryptocurrencies will remain an enabler for online criminality because of their accessibility, perceived anonymity, speed of cross-border payments and irreversible payment mechanism. <a href="http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publications/807-national-strategic-assessment-of-serious-and-organised-crime-2017/file" target="_blank">http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publications/807-national-strategic-assessment-of-serious-and-organised-crime-2017/file</a></p><p> </p><p>The UK’s first National Risk Assessment (NRA) of money laundering was published on 15 October 2015. It identified the threats and vulnerabilities faced in this area, and assessed that such currencies posed a low risk for money laundering.</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-national-risk-assessment-of-money-laundering-and-terrorist-financing" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-national-risk-assessment-of-money-laundering-and-terrorist-financing</a></p><p> </p><p>The Government is currently updating the NRA, which will provide an updated view of the money laundering risk posed by cryptocurrencies. The NRA will be published in the autumn.</p> answering member constituency Wyre and Preston North answering member printed Mr Ben Wallace question first answered 10/10/2017 09:17:05 answering member 1539 label Biography information for Mr Ben Wallace
	tabling member	1200 label Biography information for Sir Greg Knight

1682969

	registered interest
	date	17/01/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Humberside Police: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much and what proportion of the funding for the National Rural Crime Unit will be allocated to Humberside Police in each of the next five years.
	tabling member constituency	East Yorkshire
	tabling member printed	Sir Greg Knight
	uin	10025
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2024 answer text <p>The Government is committed to driving down rural crime. Whether someone lives in the countryside or a town or city, they should get the same service from the police if they fall victim to a crime.</p><p>The Home Office has provided £200,000 funding this financial year to help set up the National Rural Crime Unit, with an additional £100,000 from DEFRA. The National Rural Crime Unit has secured over £1m of funding from industry for the next three financial years, including from NFU Mutual, Network Rail and Construction and Equipment Association.</p><p>The National Rural Crime Unit aims to help police forces tackle rural crime priorities through the provision of specialist operational support, as well as through sharing best practice and encouraging regional and national approaches to tackling rural crime. Funding provided by the Government for the National Rural Crime Unit is not allocated to individual forces.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 22/01/2024 17:30:37 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	1200 label Biography information for Sir Greg Knight

759785

	registered interest
	date	12/09/2017
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Police Stations: Hornsey
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has received on the closure of Hornsey Police Station; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
	tabling member printed	Catherine West
	uin	10028
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2017 answer text <p>I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 13th September 2017, UIN 8520, 8522 and 8524.</p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 20/09/2017 13:23:51 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
	tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1241197

	registered interest
	date	07/10/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Members: Correspondence
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when UKVI plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Warley of 10 August 2020 regarding Mrs Isik.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	100284
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2020 answer text <p>I apologise for the delay in responding to the Rt Hon. Member’s correspondence.</p><p>A response was sent on 14 October.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 16/10/2020 09:24:52 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1241425

	registered interest
	date	07/10/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Cybercrime: Extortion
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is her policy on the payment of ransoms both for (a) individuals and (b) in response to cyberattacks.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	100285
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2020 answer text <p>The Government does not advise paying ransoms to criminals. The payment of a ransom to criminals is likely to encourage further criminal activity and does not guarantee a successful outcome.</p><p>The legal decision of whether or not to pay the ransom is ultimately a matter for the individuals or organisations concerned. We encourage victims of ransom demands to contact the authorities for support. An offence may arise from a possibility of money laundering or terrorist financing taking place as a result of a ransom payment.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 15/10/2020 12:54:35 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

759692

	registered interest
	date	12/09/2017
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Gangs: Research
	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 allocate funding from the public purse for the Economic and Social Research Council's additional research on the state of criminal gangs and their activities.
	tabling member constituency	West Ham
	tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
	uin	10030
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2017 answer text <p>The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is a non-departmental public body (NDPB). The Government is committed to the Haldane principle, whereby funding decisions are made by independent experts and as such government departments are not in a position to intervene in that decision making process on behalf of particular projects or individuals.</p><p> </p><p>Research funding is awarded on a competitive basis and the decision to fund projects such as potential work on criminal gangs is taken by the ESRC following a peer review and wider commissioning process. Grant funding is very competitive, and it is not possible to fund all fundable proposals. The commissioning processes are, however, designed to ensure that all research areas are treated fairly.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 20/09/2017 13:44:07 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1241261

	registered interest
	date	07/10/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Migrant Workers: Care Homes
	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 include senior careworkers in the Shortage Occupation List.
	tabling member constituency	Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale
	tabling member printed	David Mundell
	uin	100311
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2020 answer text <p>The independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) published its report on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) on 29 September.</p><p>This can be found here: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-the-shortage-occupation-list-2020" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-the-shortage-occupation-list-2020</a>.</p><p>We are considering carefully its recommendations before commenting on whether specific occupations will be included in the SOL.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 15/10/2020 11:41:13 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	1512 label Biography information for David Mundell

1241255

	registered interest
	date	07/10/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Knives: Retail Trade
	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 10 September 2020 to Question 85969 on Knives, what steps the Government is taking to work with retailers to promote the responsible sales of knives.
	tabling member constituency	Hammersmith
	tabling member printed	Andy Slaughter
	uin	100312
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/10/2020 answer text <p>The Government has agreed a set of voluntary commitments with major retailers to promote the responsible sale of knives and to prevent the sale of knives to under-18s, both in stores and online. The agreement commits retailers to having robust measures in place to ensure age verification and both appropriate display and access to knives in stores.</p><p>Retailers also act to ensure customers and staff are reminded that knives are age restricted products and that all staff receive regular training. Since March 2016, 19 major retailed have joined the agreement, with some stopping the sale of single knives in their stores altogether. We are continuing to work with retailers to strengthen the agreement further in relation to the display of knives.</p><p>The Offensive Weapons Act 2019 strengthens the law in relation to the preventing the online sale of knives to under 18s by requiring age verification and stopping knives being sent to residential addresses after they are bought online, unless the seller has arrangements in place with the delivery company to ensure that the product would not be delivered into the hands of a person under 18.</p><p>We have paused commencement of some of the Act’s provisions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the social distancing measures that have been in place to avoid placing significant additional burdens on businesses and delivery companies to modify their sales and delivery systems and train staff over this period. We are keeping the position under review and we expect to be able to commence the provisions at the earliest opportunity.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 14/10/2020 08:50:52 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
	tabling member	1516 label Biography information for Andy Slaughter

759786

	registered interest
	date	12/09/2017
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Immigration
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what average gross and net income her Department has derived from each category of migration application.
	tabling member constituency	West Ham
	tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
	uin	10032
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2017 answer text <p>Your question relates to Home Office income categories which are published in the “Visa fees transparency data”:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/606616/Unit_cost_table_2017.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/606616/Unit_cost_table_2017.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 18/09/2017 15:44:18 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

759787

	registered interest
	date	12/09/2017
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Immigration
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the net income was for (a) her Department and (b) providers of services contracted by her Department from migration applications in each of the last five financial years.
	tabling member constituency	West Ham
	tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
	uin	10033
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2017 answer text <p>(a) Your question relates to Home Office income which can be found in the Annual Report and Accounts:</p><p>16-17 Page 117 - <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/627853/ho_annual_report_and_accounts_2016_2017.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/627853/ho_annual_report_and_accounts_2016_2017.pdf</a></p><p>15-16 Page 134 - <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/539638/HO_AR_16_gov.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/539638/HO_AR_16_gov.pdf</a></p><p>14-15 Page 126 – <a href="https://www.gov.uk/mwg-internal/de5fs23hu73ds/progress?id=tNys4lKDcM-N1kzOo5KUl2WQj0Y5-Oh-71pY3aycKfE,&amp;dl" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/mwg-internal/de5fs23hu73ds/progress?id=tNys4lKDcM-N1kzOo5KUl2WQj0Y5-Oh-71pY3aycKfE,&amp;dl</a></p><p>13-14 Page 111 - <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/321446/ARA_web_enabled_18_June.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/321446/ARA_web_enabled_18_June.pdf</a></p><p>12-13 Page 133 - <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210660/Annual_Report_and_Accounts_FINAL_updated_logo.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210660/Annual_Report_and_Accounts_FINAL_updated_logo.pdf</a></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>(b) We do not have access to the accounts of our suppliers and therefore cannot comment on their net income.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 18/09/2017 15:42:09 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1241388

	registered interest
	date	07/10/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Home Office: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the biggest pay rise given to someone in her Department was in (a) percentage and (b) cash terms in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Shipley
	tabling member printed	Philip Davies
	uin	100330
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2020 answer text <p>In the last 12 months the biggest percentage pay rise in the Home Office was 9% and the biggest pay rise in cash terms was £7,292.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 15/10/2020 12:58:40 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	1565 label Biography information for Sir Philip Davies

1241194

	registered interest
	date	07/10/2020
	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, pursuant to the Answer of 29 September 2020 to Question 92763 on Asylum: Employment, if she will publish the evidence that granting asylum seekers the right to work could act as an incentive for asylum seekers to come to the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Westmorland and Lonsdale
	tabling member printed	Tim Farron
	uin	100339
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/10/2020 answer text <p>There is already published, independent evidence showing that good economic conditions and essential services can create an incentive for people to choose to go to a particular country illegally. This is because it is easier to work under such conditions – and we cannot ignore that access to the labour market is among the reasons that so many people choose to come to the UK illegally, rather than remain in any of the countries through which they transit.</p><p>That is why it is important to distinguish between those who need protection and those seeking to work here, who can apply for a work visa under the Immigration Rules. Our wider policy could be undermined if migrants bypassed work visa Rules by lodging unfounded asylum claims here.</p><p>Asylum seeker right to work is a complex issue. This is under review; it is crucial we take the time to get this right and we are listening carefully to the arguments and considering the evidence put forward on the issue. The Home Office will be happy to discuss the content of the review once it has been completed.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 100340 question first answered 13/10/2020 15:49:26 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	1591 label Biography information for Tim Farron

759788

	registered interest
	date	12/09/2017
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Ending Gang Violence and Exploitation Forum
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding from the public purse her Department has made available to the Ending Gang Violence and Exploitation Forum since its creation.
	tabling member constituency	West Ham
	tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
	uin	10034
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2017 answer text <p>In December 2016 we provided a £100,000 fund for Ending Gang Violence and Exploitation (EGVE) Forum members and we supported 11 local projects. These included projects to support work with students, providing help to parents of gang affected children, providing interventions for gang affected women and girls, and delivering messages in schools about not carrying knives.</p><p> </p><p>In August this year we invited bidding for a further round of EGVE funding which is open to EGVE Forum members, of which over 200 different organisations are now represented in the Forum and able to put forward a bid for funding for a specific project if they are interested. We have made up to £300,000 available.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 20/09/2017 13:35:01 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1241195

	registered interest
	date	07/10/2020
	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, pursuant to Answer of 29 September to Question 92763 on the right to work for asylum seekers, what is the evidential basis for the policy that granting asylum seekers the right to work would cause migrants to bypass work visa rules by lodging asylum claims.
	tabling member constituency	Westmorland and Lonsdale
	tabling member printed	Tim Farron
	uin	100340
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/10/2020 answer text <p>There is already published, independent evidence showing that good economic conditions and essential services can create an incentive for people to choose to go to a particular country illegally. This is because it is easier to work under such conditions – and we cannot ignore that access to the labour market is among the reasons that so many people choose to come to the UK illegally, rather than remain in any of the countries through which they transit.</p><p>That is why it is important to distinguish between those who need protection and those seeking to work here, who can apply for a work visa under the Immigration Rules. Our wider policy could be undermined if migrants bypassed work visa Rules by lodging unfounded asylum claims here.</p><p>Asylum seeker right to work is a complex issue. This is under review; it is crucial we take the time to get this right and we are listening carefully to the arguments and considering the evidence put forward on the issue. The Home Office will be happy to discuss the content of the review once it has been completed.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 100339 question first answered 13/10/2020 15:49:26 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	1591 label Biography information for Tim Farron

1466362

	registered interest
	date	26/05/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Passports: Applications
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of UK passport (a) applications and (b) renewals submitted in the week beginning 28 February 2022 were processed within 10 weeks by HM Passport Office.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, West Derby
	tabling member printed	Ian Byrne
	uin	10035
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2022 answer text <p>Since April 2021, people have been advised to allow up to ten weeks when applying for their British passport as more than 5 million people delayed applying due to the pandemic. 98.6% of all passport applications continue to be dealt with well within 10 weeks.</p><p> </p><p>A British passport cannot be issued until all checks are satisfactorily completed to confirm the applicant is entitled to one. If further information is required to enable an application to be progressed, then it will take longer.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 10036 10037 10038 question first answered 08/06/2022 16:20:06 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4831 label Biography information for Ian Byrne

759789

	registered interest
	date	12/09/2017
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Ending Gang Violence and Exploitation Forum
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times the Ending Gang Violence and Exploitation Forum has met since it was established; and how many representatives of (a) local authorities and (b) other public bodies were represented at each of those meetings.
	tabling member constituency	West Ham
	tabling member printed	Lyn Brown
	uin	10035
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2017 answer text <p>The Ending Gang Violence and Exploitation Forum (EGVE) has over 200 members representing a range of organisations.</p><p> </p><p>The EGVE Forum has met on four occasions since July 2016 and each meeting has been attended by over 60 members. We do not hold information on the exact breakdown of representatives from each sector in attendance at each meeting. However each meeting has been attended by members from local authorities, the police, and voluntary sector.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 20/09/2017 13:34:18 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1241355

	registered interest
	date	07/10/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Missing Persons
	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 Government’s progress on meeting the objectives of the Missing Children and Adults Strategy 2011.
	tabling member constituency	Gillingham and Rainham
	tabling member printed	Rehman Chishti
	uin	100357
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/10/2020 answer text <p>People who go missing include some of the most vulnerable people in our society and the Government will do all it can to ensure those people are protected from harm.</p><p>The 2011 Missing Children and Adults Strategy provided a framework for local and national action to protect children and vulnerable adults who go missing. The Government has made significant progress in meeting the objectives of the strategy including by issuing new statutory guidance on missing children, placing new requirements on local authorities on the reporting of missing incidents, working with the College of Policing to develop new risk-based professional practice for police, and funding support for missing people and their families through charities like Missing People.</p><p>While plans to update the 2011 strategy are under consideration, we can and will go further to protect and support people who go missing. The Department for Education is working with the police, local authorities and the voluntary sector to consider how its statutory guidance is supporting local authorities and their partners to prevent children from going missing from home or care, and the Home Office is working with the national policing lead for Missing Persons and the NCA’s UK Missing Persons Unit to deliver a National Register for Missing Persons (NRMP) which will provide new functionality around the reporting of missing and associated found incidents across police force boundaries.</p><p>Protecting and supporting vulnerable missing people is also a key element of our action to tackle exploitation and abuse, including sexual abuse and county lines exploitation, given the clear links between people who go missing and these broader harms. This includes funding Missing People’s SafeCall service, a specialist 24/7 helpline which provides advice and support to children, young people and parents/carers concerned about county lines exploitation.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 100358 question first answered 14/10/2020 16:06:53 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	3987 label Biography information for Rehman Chishti

1241356

	registered interest
	date	07/10/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Missing Persons
	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 update the Missing Children and Adults Strategy 2011.
	tabling member constituency	Gillingham and Rainham
	tabling member printed	Rehman Chishti
	uin	100358
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/10/2020 answer text <p>People who go missing include some of the most vulnerable people in our society and the Government will do all it can to ensure those people are protected from harm.</p><p>The 2011 Missing Children and Adults Strategy provided a framework for local and national action to protect children and vulnerable adults who go missing. The Government has made significant progress in meeting the objectives of the strategy including by issuing new statutory guidance on missing children, placing new requirements on local authorities on the reporting of missing incidents, working with the College of Policing to develop new risk-based professional practice for police, and funding support for missing people and their families through charities like Missing People.</p><p>While plans to update the 2011 strategy are under consideration, we can and will go further to protect and support people who go missing. The Department for Education is working with the police, local authorities and the voluntary sector to consider how its statutory guidance is supporting local authorities and their partners to prevent children from going missing from home or care, and the Home Office is working with the national policing lead for Missing Persons and the NCA’s UK Missing Persons Unit to deliver a National Register for Missing Persons (NRMP) which will provide new functionality around the reporting of missing and associated found incidents across police force boundaries.</p><p>Protecting and supporting vulnerable missing people is also a key element of our action to tackle exploitation and abuse, including sexual abuse and county lines exploitation, given the clear links between people who go missing and these broader harms. This includes funding Missing People’s SafeCall service, a specialist 24/7 helpline which provides advice and support to children, young people and parents/carers concerned about county lines exploitation.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 100357 question first answered 14/10/2020 16:06:53 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	3987 label Biography information for Rehman Chishti

1241357

	registered interest
	date	07/10/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Missing Persons
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of missing (a) adults and (b) children, were recorded as high risk in each month from 1 April 2020 to 1 September 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Gillingham and Rainham
	tabling member printed	Rehman Chishti
	uin	100359
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/10/2020 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">The Home Office does not hold data on missing person incidents. Annual missing persons statistics, including analysis of age and risk category, are published by the National Crime Agency’s Missing Person’s Unit. The latest report is for 2018-19 and is available at <a href="https://www.missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/resources/downloads/missing-persons-statistical-bulletins" target="_blank">https://www.missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/resources/downloads/missing-persons-statistical-bulletins</a>.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">The Government recognises the importance of accurate and timely data on both current and historic missing incidents. We are working with the national policing lead for Missing Persons and the NCA’s UK Missing Persons Unit through the Home Office National Law Enforcement Data Programme (NLEDP) to deliver a National Register for Missing Persons (NRMP). The NRMP will provide a snapshot of live missing incidents across police forces in England and Wales.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Annual missing persons statistics, including analysis of age and risk category, are published by the National Crime Agency’s Missing Person’s Unit. The latest report is for 2018-19 and is available at <a href="https://www.missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/resources/downloads/missing-persons-statistical-bulletins" target="_blank">https://www.missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/resources/downloads/missing-persons-statistical-bulletins</a>.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> The Government recognises the importance of accurate and timely data on both current and historic missing incidents. We are working with the national policing lead for Missing Persons and the NCA’s UK Missing Persons Unit through the Home Office National Law Enforcement Data Programme (NLEDP) to deliver a National Register for Missing Persons (NRMP). The NRMP will provide a snapshot of live missing incidents across police forces in England and Wales.</ins></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 14/10/2020 16:03:27 question first ministerially corrected 16/10/2020 13:09:26 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins previous answer version 54324 answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	3987 label Biography information for Rehman Chishti

1466363

	registered interest
	date	26/05/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Passports: Applications
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of UK passport (a) applications and (b) renewals submitted in the week beginning 7 March 2022 were processed within 10 weeks by HM Passport Office.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, West Derby
	tabling member printed	Ian Byrne
	uin	10036
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2022 answer text <p>Since April 2021, people have been advised to allow up to ten weeks when applying for their British passport as more than 5 million people delayed applying due to the pandemic. 98.6% of all passport applications continue to be dealt with well within 10 weeks.</p><p> </p><p>A British passport cannot be issued until all checks are satisfactorily completed to confirm the applicant is entitled to one. If further information is required to enable an application to be progressed, then it will take longer.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 10035 10037 10038 question first answered 08/06/2022 16:20:07 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4831 label Biography information for Ian Byrne

1466364

	registered interest
	date	26/05/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Passports: Applications
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of UK passport (a) applications and (b) renewals submitted in the week beginning 14 March 2022 were processed within 10 weeks by HM Passport Office.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, West Derby
	tabling member printed	Ian Byrne
	uin	10037
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2022 answer text <p>Since April 2021, people have been advised to allow up to ten weeks when applying for their British passport as more than 5 million people delayed applying due to the pandemic. 98.6% of all passport applications continue to be dealt with well within 10 weeks.</p><p> </p><p>A British passport cannot be issued until all checks are satisfactorily completed to confirm the applicant is entitled to one. If further information is required to enable an application to be progressed, then it will take longer.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 10035 10036 10038 question first answered 08/06/2022 16:20:07 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4831 label Biography information for Ian Byrne

1466365

	registered interest
	date	26/05/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Passports: Applications
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of UK passport (a) applications and (b) renewals submitted in the week beginning 21 March 2022 were processed within 10 weeks by HM Passport Office.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, West Derby
	tabling member printed	Ian Byrne
	uin	10038
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2022 answer text <p>Since April 2021, people have been advised to allow up to ten weeks when applying for their British passport as more than 5 million people delayed applying due to the pandemic. 98.6% of all passport applications continue to be dealt with well within 10 weeks.</p><p> </p><p>A British passport cannot be issued until all checks are satisfactorily completed to confirm the applicant is entitled to one. If further information is required to enable an application to be progressed, then it will take longer.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 10035 10036 10037 question first answered 08/06/2022 16:20:07 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4831 label Biography information for Ian Byrne

1466366

	registered interest
	date	26/05/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Passports: Applications
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of UK passport (a) applications and (b) renewals submitted in the week beginning 28 March 2022 were processed within 10 weeks by HM Passport Office.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, West Derby
	tabling member printed	Ian Byrne
	uin	10039
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/06/2022 answer text <p>Since April 2021, people have been advised to allow up to ten weeks when applying for their British passport as more than 5 million people delayed applying due to the pandemic. 98.6% of all passport applications continue to be dealt with well within 10 weeks.</p><p> </p><p>A British passport cannot be issued until all checks are satisfactorily completed to confirm the applicant is entitled to one. If further information is required to enable an application to be progressed, then it will take longer.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 13/06/2022 10:40:12 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4831 label Biography information for Ian Byrne

1241254

	registered interest
	date	07/10/2020
	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, whether the Government’s review on the restrictions on asylum seekers’ right to work, initiated in December 2018, will provide an assessment of (a) the potential benefits to people’s wellbeing while they are in the asylum system and (b) their integration prospects upon receipt of a positive asylum decision.
	tabling member constituency	Oldham East and Saddleworth
	tabling member printed	Debbie Abrahams
	uin	100398
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/10/2020 answer text <p>There is already published, independent evidence showing that good economic conditions and essential services can create an incentive for people to choose to go to a particular country illegally. This is because it is easier to work under such conditions – and we cannot ignore that access to the labour market is among the reasons that so many people choose to come to the UK illegally, rather than remain in any of the countries through which they transit.</p><p>That is why it is important to distinguish between those who need protection and those seeking to work here, who can apply for a work visa under the Immigration Rules. Our wider policy could be undermined if migrants bypassed work visa Rules by lodging unfounded asylum claims here.</p><p>Asylum seeker right to work is a complex issue. This is under review; it is crucial we take the time to get this right and we are listening carefully to the arguments and considering the evidence put forward on the issue. The Home Office will be happy to discuss the content of the review once it has been completed.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 12/10/2020 16:10:20 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4212 label Biography information for Debbie Abrahams

418479

	registered interest
	date	11/09/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Forced Labour Convention
	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 16 July 2015 to Question 6159, if she will establish a timeframe for ratification of the Protocol to the 2014 Forced Labour Convention.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	10040
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2015 answer text <p>The Government presented the Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention to Parliament on 6 February 2015, where it remained for 21 sitting days to allow scrutiny by both Houses. The UK is already compliant with the measures set out in the protocol and the Government will seek to ratify it shortly.</p> answering member constituency Staffordshire Moorlands answering member printed Karen Bradley question first answered 18/09/2015 10:40:33 answering member 4110 label Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

1401342

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Home Office: Consultants
	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 had any (a) financial contract and (b) meetings with (i) Clifford Chance LLP, (ii) FTI Consulting and (iii) Fenchurch Advisory Partners in the last five years; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow West
	tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
	uin	100409
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2022 answer text <p>The Home Office does not hold any financial contracts nor has it had meetings with the companies mentioned within the last five years.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 01/02/2022 15:17:38 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

418477

	registered interest
	date	11/09/2015
	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, pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2015 to Question 6173, what the categories of statutory excuses established by employers are which result in no action notices or notification of no liability.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	10041
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2015 answer text <p>An employer is excused from liability for a civil penalty if they show that they have complied with the prescribed right to work checks. There are no categories of statutory excuse.</p><p>The civil penalty regime and right to work checks are set out in the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, secondary legislation and published statutory codes of practice and guidance.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 18/09/2015 15:49:34 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

1241320

	registered interest
	date	07/10/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Human Trafficking and Slavery
	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 collects data on the country of origin of victims of modern slavery and human trafficking.
	tabling member constituency	Rotherham
	tabling member printed	Sarah Champion
	uin	100413
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/10/2020 answer text <p>The Home Office records the nationality of potential victims of modern slavery who enter the National Referral Mechanism. The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics for the National Referral Mechanism, which include nationality information. These can be found using the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-referral-mechanism-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-referral-mechanism-statistics</a></p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 14/10/2020 15:50:54 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4267 label Biography information for Sarah Champion

1401350

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Slavery
	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 reports that HSBC acquired shares in a Chinese chemicals and plastics company Xinjiang Tianyen, what steps she is taking to extend Section 54 on transparency and supply chains of the Modern Slavery Act to regulate the activities of financial services institutions.
	tabling member constituency	Mitcham and Morden
	tabling member printed	Siobhain McDonagh
	uin	100417
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2022 answer text <p>The UK was the first country in the world to require businesses to report on the steps they have taken to tackle modern slavery. The landmark provision in section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires organisations, including financial institutions, with a turnover of £36m or more, to report annually on the steps they have taken to prevent modern slavery in their operations and supply chains.</p><p>The prevalence of modern slavery and complexity of global supply chains means that it is highly unlikely that any sector or company is immune from the risks of modern slavery, including those in financial services. The Government encourages companies to monitor their supply chains with rigour to uncover and remedy any associations they may find with forced labour or other labour abuses.</p><p>The Government has already committed to take forward an ambitious package of changes to strengthen the Act’s transparency legislation, including mandating the specific reporting topics that statements must cover and introducing financial penalties for organisations that fail to comply.</p><p>To further bolster our approach to modern slavery, on 24 March 2021, the Government announced a review of the 2014 Modern Slavery Strategy. As part of the strategy review we will consider how to strengthen our approach to transparency in supply chains, including in relation to financial institutions. A revised strategy will allow us to build on the considerable progress we have made to date, adapt our approach to the evolving nature of these terrible crimes, and continue our international leadership in tackling modern slavery.</p> answering member constituency Redditch answering member printed Rachel Maclean question first answered 18/01/2022 16:35:57 answering member 4668 label Biography information for Rachel Maclean
	tabling member	193 label Biography information for Dame Siobhain McDonagh

1241399

	registered interest
	date	07/10/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Hong Kong
	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 potential merits of expanding the T5 visa scheme for Hong Kong residents by making it renewable after 24 months until they are eligible for settled status after five years.
	tabling member constituency	Rotherham
	tabling member printed	Sarah Champion
	uin	100419
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2020 answer text <p>The Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme with Hong Kong is a reciprocal agreement currently capped at 24 months. In line with similar agreements with other territories it is primarily a cultural exchange programme rather than a route to settlement and it only applies to those aged under 30.</p><p>Other immigration routes are available to Hong Kong residents which lead to settlement in the UK, plus we have already announced our intention to create a route to settlement for British National (Overseas) resident in Hong Kong and their dependents.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 15/10/2020 11:43:36 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4267 label Biography information for Sarah Champion

418478

	registered interest
	date	11/09/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Gangmasters Licensing Authority: Staff
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what changes are planned to the level of staffing in the Gangmasters Licensing Authority in the next 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	10042
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2015 answer text <p>There are no changes to staffing levels currently planned for the next 12 months. We are developing proposals to improve labour market enforcement involving the Gangmasters Licensing Authority and will consult on those in due course.</p> answering member constituency Staffordshire Moorlands answering member printed Karen Bradley question first answered 18/09/2015 15:48:17 answering member 4110 label Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

1241283

	registered interest
	date	07/10/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: English Language
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how her Department is making decisions on visa applications for people required to undertake English language tests as part of their application process where language test centres are closed due to the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Bermondsey and Old Southwark
	tabling member printed	Neil Coyle
	uin	100424
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/10/2020 answer text <p>The Home Office has implemented a number of measures for visa applicants, including for those who are unable to take an English language tests due to the impact of Covid-19.</p><p>Details of all published concessions are available at - <a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fguidance%2Fcoronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents&amp;data=02%7C01%7CGuy.Brewer%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C61be545ffcd546c899a808d86b9b4e05%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C637377667777087499&amp;sdata=RogiVZW8kL6kC57DaLU%2BRVJr3hUiGEKJEqceAlA8co0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents</a>.</p><p>Some specific concessions are in place on English language testing, for example, those applying to enter the UK or remain on the basis of family or private life can apply for an exemption if the test centre was closed or if they were unable to travel to a test centre due to Covid-19.</p><p>For students, Higher Education Providers (HEP) can self-assess the English ability of those studying at degree level or above and due to Covid-19, this provision has been temporarily extended to allow HEPs to self-assess the English ability of students undertaking pre-sessional courses.</p><p>The majority of Secure English Language Testing (SELT) centres have reopened in England and in a number of overseas locations outside of the UK, where local restrictions have eased.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 12/10/2020 16:08:39 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4368 label Biography information for Neil Coyle

1401401

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Alpha Men Assemble
	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 or its agencies are aware of and are monitoring the activities of anti-vax group Alpha Men Assemble and Mr Danny Glass who reportedly recently held an exercise in Chasewater Park near Lichfield; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Lichfield
	tabling member printed	Michael Fabricant
	uin	100425
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2022 answer text <p>Home Office officials are aware of the event held at Chasewater Park at the weekend and police were in attendance to ensure safety of the public.</p><p>The Government engages with partners to build a picture of the prevalence of potentially radical groups within communities. We keep our response to groups and individuals under constant review to ensure it is best placed to tackle the evolving threat.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 14/01/2022 13:37:19 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse previous answer version 43146 answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
	tabling member	280 label Biography information for Michael Fabricant

1401357

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Demonstrations
	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 the democratic right to protest is maintained through the provisions of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	100427
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2022 answer text <p>The freedom to peacefully protest across the country is a fundamental right that this Government is proud to support. Most protest activity in this country does not require a police response and we expect that to continue. The public order measures in the PCSC Bill are targeted at non-violent protests that cause serious disruption to the lives of others.</p><p>As with all existing powers to manage protests the police must not act incompatibly with the European Convention on Human Rights, namely articles 10 and 11 on the freedoms of expression and assembly, when making use of these measures.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 18/01/2022 16:47:11 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

418480

	registered interest
	date	11/09/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Gangmasters Licensing Authority: 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 staff of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority are dedicated to frontline inspection activity.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	10043
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2015 answer text <p>The total number of staff involved in frontline inspection activity is 55. This includes staff who carry out physical inspections for compliance purposes, those who undertake enforcement activity, and those who provide logistical and intelligence gathering support.</p> answering member constituency Staffordshire Moorlands answering member printed Karen Bradley question first answered 21/10/2015 15:59:12 answering member 4110 label Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

1401360

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Refugees
	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 the provisions in the Nationality and Borders Bill help to integrate refugees into UK society.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	100430
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2022 answer text <p>The Nationality and Borders Bill is the cornerstone of the New Plan for Immigration, which sets out the Government’s intentions to build a fair but firm asylum system.</p><p> </p><p>The New Plan for Immigration announced a package of measures to improve integration support so that refugees arriving under safe and legal routes are fully supported to become self-sufficient and integrate well into society. The Enhanced Integration Package will deliver a package of tailored support, such as language training, skills development and employment support to help refugees rebuild their lives. More details will be released on this package in due course.<ins class="ministerial"> <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-plan-for-immigration-legal-migration-and-border-control/new-plan-for-immigration-legal-migration-and-border-control-strategy-statement-accessible-web-version" target="_blank">New plan for immigration: legal migration and border control strategy statement (accessible web version) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></ins></p><p> </p><p>Refugees coming to the UK through the safe and legal routes our resettlement schemes provide will be granted indefinite leave to remain on arrival, providing them with the certainty and stability they need to rebuild their lives in the UK.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 18/01/2022 17:20:35 question first ministerially corrected 19/01/2022 11:35:40 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove previous answer version 44256 answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1682996

	registered interest
	date	17/01/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Knives: Crime
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he has taken to work with relevant authorities to tackle knife (a) possession and (b) crime among youth in (i) England and (ii) Romford constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	10044
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2024 answer text <p>Tackling knife crime is a priority and the Government is determined to crack down on the scourge of violence devastating our communities.</p><p>We recently consulted on new legislative proposals to tackle knife crime and as a result, in the Criminal Justice Bill, we have introduced provisions to provide more powers for police to seize knives held in private that could be used in crimes, increase the maximum penalty for the offences of selling prohibited weapons and selling knives to under 18s. In the next few weeks, the Government intends to introduce a new ban on zombie-style machetes and knives.</p><p>As a result of the Government’s Police Uplift Programme (PUP) the Metropolitan police service has recruited 3,468 additional uplift officers against a total three-year allocation of 4,557 officers. The Metropolitan Police’s funding will be up to £3,581.1 million for 2024/25, an increase of up to £118.9 million when compared to 2023/24.</p><p>Under this Government, it has never been easier for the police to make legitimate use of stop and search powers. Every knife seized through stop and search is a potential life saved. In 2022-23, stop and search removed over 15,000 weapons and firearms from our streets and resulted over 74,000 arrests across England and Wales. In Essex there were over 2,000 resultant arrests following a stop and search and almost 4,600 searches resulted in a stolen or prohibited article being found in 2022-23.</p><p>The Home Office has invested over £160m since 2019 into the development of 20 Violence Reduction Units across England and Wales with a further £55m made available for 2023/24. Since 2019, we have provided over £43 million to develop and run the London Violence Reduction Unit, which covers Havering. This includes an investment of £9.5m in 2023/24. Violence Reduction Units deter people, particularly young people, from becoming involved in serious violence by bringing together partners from health, probation, policing, housing and beyond and investing in the best evidence-based interventions.</p><p>Through our Grip programme, we are providing additional funding to enable the Metropolitan police to boost patrols in specific streets and neighbourhoods most affected by violence, including Romford High Street. This programme is providing regular, visible patrols to deter violence and provide community reassurance as well as problem-oriented policing.</p><p>Problem-oriented policing is based on an analytical approach that seeks to identify and respond to the specific drivers of violence as they affect the particular location, so that working with partners, the police can take effective preventative action to tackle these. Since 2019, we have provided The Met Police with c.£51.8 million for their delivery of the programme and have awarded them a further c.£8.9 million for this (23/24) financial year.</p><p>Violence Reduction Units, in combination with GRIP, have delivered a statistically significant reduction in hospital admissions for violent injuries since funding began in 2019 (an estimated 3,220 admissions have been prevented in areas where the programmes operate).</p><p>Over 10 years the Home Office is investing £200m in early intervention and prevention initiatives to help children and young people at risk of exploitation and involvement in serious violence, through the Youth Endowment Fund.</p><p>The YEF have funded the SW!TCH Lives project in Romford, which aimed to promote positive actions and emotions and reduce risky behaviour by providing young people with consistent, positive role models, weekly mentoring and positive peer networks. They have also funded ‘You and Me Counselling’ as part of the COVID-19 Learning Project, which aimed to provide targeted support to young people at risk of being involved in violence; and second, to learn fast about the best ways to reach young people during a period of social distancing.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 25/01/2024 17:35:12 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

418475

	registered interest
	date	11/09/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Gangmasters Licensing Authority
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria are used by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority to establish whether a licence holder is high risk.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	10044
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2015 answer text <p>The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) have established Licensing Standards against which applicants and existing licence holders are assessed. They are all legal requirements to protect workers from poor treatment and exploitation and set out the conditions that must be met to obtain and hold a GLA licence.</p><p>The Standards are published on the GLA website at:-</p><p>http://www.gla.gov.uk/Guidance/Information-on-Licensing/Licencing-Standards/. They include treatment of workers, accommodation and working conditions among others. Any non-compliance with the Standards is treated very seriously and would bear on the risk a licence holder poses. In addition, the GLA receives intelligence from partner agencies, such as police forces, about businesses which would also be taken into account in assessing risk. The GLA can inspect businesses where there are concerns.</p> answering member constituency Staffordshire Moorlands answering member printed Karen Bradley question first answered 18/09/2015 10:43:38 answering member 4110 label Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

1682997

	registered interest
	date	17/01/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Retail Trade: Crimes of Violence
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he has taken to work with relevant authorities to tackle violent crime against retail workers in (i) England and (ii) Romford constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	10045
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2024 answer text <p>The Government recognises the significant impact shoplifting has on businesses, communities and consumers. The Crime Survey for England and Wales shows neighbourhood crime is down 51% compared to findings from the year ending March 2010.</p><p>However, Police Recorded Crime figures show shoplifting offences increased by 25% in the 12 months to June 2023. Statistics also show the number of people charged with shoplifting offences has risen by 29% in the year ending June 2023.</p><p>We have recently made significant steps to improve the police response to retail crime, including shoplifting.</p><p>In October, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) published the <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.npcc.police.uk%2Fresources%2Fe6e5n-gfsgg-qru39-qjnkc-dbait&amp;data=05%7C02%7CRebecca.Khosla2%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C2866bb4a3f554fdf3e4208dc014e95e9%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C638386684221640764%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=k3DpuJZSdEOv4zGEcy3P7WC8Cajku%2F9%2BKH6vpSTM2Y4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Retail Crime Action Plan</a>. Through this Plan, all forces across England and Wales have committed to prioritise police attendance at the scene where violence has been used towards shop staff, where an offender has been detained by store security, and where evidence needs to be secured and can only be done by police personnel. Additionally, where CCTV or other digital images are secured, police will run this through the Police National Database to aid efforts to identify prolific offenders or potentially dangerous individuals.</p><p>This builds on the NPCC commitment that police forces across England and Wales will follow up all crimes where there is actionable evidence and the chance of identifying an offender, including shoplifting.</p><p>October also saw the launch of Pegasus, a unique private-public partnership, which involves retailers providing data, intelligence and evidence to Opal, the national police intelligence unit on organised acquisitive crime, to develop a better strategic picture and help forces crack down on serious offenders.</p><p>The Government is clear that violent and abusive behaviour towards any worker, particularly those who provide a valuable service to the public, is never acceptable.</p><p>In 2022 we took the significant step to introduce a statutory aggravating factor for assault against those who are serving the public. Section 156 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 means the public facing nature of a victim’s role will be considered an aggravating factor when it comes to sentencing for assault offences, allowing the court to give a longer sentence within the statutory maximum for the offence.</p><p>The Government also continues to work closely with retail businesses, security representatives, trade associations and policing through the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG) to ensure the response to retail crime is as robust as it can be.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 10046 question first answered 25/01/2024 17:36:21 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1682998

	registered interest
	date	17/01/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Shoplifting
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he has taken to work with relevant authorities to tackle shoplifting in (a) England and (b) Romford constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	10046
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2024 answer text <p>The Government recognises the significant impact shoplifting has on businesses, communities and consumers. The Crime Survey for England and Wales shows neighbourhood crime is down 51% compared to findings from the year ending March 2010.</p><p>However, Police Recorded Crime figures show shoplifting offences increased by 25% in the 12 months to June 2023. Statistics also show the number of people charged with shoplifting offences has risen by 29% in the year ending June 2023.</p><p>We have recently made significant steps to improve the police response to retail crime, including shoplifting.</p><p>In October, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) published the <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.npcc.police.uk%2Fresources%2Fe6e5n-gfsgg-qru39-qjnkc-dbait&amp;data=05%7C02%7CRebecca.Khosla2%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C2866bb4a3f554fdf3e4208dc014e95e9%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C638386684221640764%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=k3DpuJZSdEOv4zGEcy3P7WC8Cajku%2F9%2BKH6vpSTM2Y4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Retail Crime Action Plan</a>. Through this Plan, all forces across England and Wales have committed to prioritise police attendance at the scene where violence has been used towards shop staff, where an offender has been detained by store security, and where evidence needs to be secured and can only be done by police personnel. Additionally, where CCTV or other digital images are secured, police will run this through the Police National Database to aid efforts to identify prolific offenders or potentially dangerous individuals.</p><p>This builds on the NPCC commitment that police forces across England and Wales will follow up all crimes where there is actionable evidence and the chance of identifying an offender, including shoplifting.</p><p>October also saw the launch of Pegasus, a unique private-public partnership, which involves retailers providing data, intelligence and evidence to Opal, the national police intelligence unit on organised acquisitive crime, to develop a better strategic picture and help forces crack down on serious offenders.</p><p>The Government is clear that violent and abusive behaviour towards any worker, particularly those who provide a valuable service to the public, is never acceptable.</p><p>In 2022 we took the significant step to introduce a statutory aggravating factor for assault against those who are serving the public. Section 156 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 means the public facing nature of a victim’s role will be considered an aggravating factor when it comes to sentencing for assault offences, allowing the court to give a longer sentence within the statutory maximum for the offence.</p><p>The Government also continues to work closely with retail businesses, security representatives, trade associations and policing through the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG) to ensure the response to retail crime is as robust as it can be.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 10045 question first answered 25/01/2024 17:36:21 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1401472

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2022
	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 of the initial 5,000 places on the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme will be allocated to people already in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Hammersmith
	tabling member printed	Andy Slaughter
	uin	100463
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2022 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>Due to the success of our emergency evacuation and the larger than anticipated number of people brought over to the UK, we plan to exceed our initial aim of 5,000 people in the first year of the ACRS.</p><p>There are around 6,500 people in the UK who have been brought to safety during and after the evacuation who are eligible for the ACRS. They include women’s rights activists, journalists, and prosecutors, as well as the Afghan families of British Nationals. This also includes some of those most at risk, such as members of the LGBT community.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 18/01/2022 17:21:16 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	1516 label Biography information for Andy Slaughter

1401540

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2022
	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, pursuant to the Statement on 6 January 2022 on the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), Official Report, col. 185, if she will take steps to set up an ACRS implementation group (a) with the aim of ensuring the ACRS is run with an understanding by staff of Afghanistan’s particular (i) cultural, (ii) security (iii) gender concerns, and (b) to include the expertise of (iv) women from the region with knowledge of the (A) cultural, (B) socio-religious and (C) geopolitical context of Afghanistan and (v) people working on the ground with those in need of UK assistance; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	100479
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2022 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>The first to be resettled under the new ACRS will be those already evacuated and in the UK. They include women’s rights activists, journalists, and prosecutors, as well as the Afghan families of British Nationals.</p><p>Due to the success of our emergency evacuation and the larger than anticipated number of people brought over to the UK, we will exceed our initial aim of 5,000 people resettled in the first year of the ACRS. There are around 6,500 people in the UK who have been brought to safety during and after the evacuation who are eligible for the ACRS.</p><p>British nationals who have a right of abode in the UK will not be resettled under the ACRS. However, we are supporting those British Nationals who have been assisted by Her Majesty’s Government to the UK.</p><p>In addition to those already in the UK, we are working with the UNHCR to receive referrals of vulnerable refugees in need of protection in year 1 of the ACRS, and we will continue to receive referrals to the scheme in coming years. In the first year we will also offer ACRS places to the most at-risk British Council and GardaWorld contractors, and Chevening alumni. Beyond the first year of the ACRS, we will work with international partners and NGOs to welcome referrals of wider groups of Afghans most at risk. There will not be an application process.</p><p>The ACRS provides those at risk with a route to safety through three distinct referral routes and has been designed with partners, including the UNHCR, with whom we are designing the referral route for refugees outside of Afghanistan.</p><p>The Government will continue to work with international partners to seek to facilitate the travel of those eligible for resettlement in the UK.</p><p>Family members of British citizens and settled persons who were not called forward during the evacuation of Afghanistan, or who have not been offered resettlement under the Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme, will need to apply to come to the UK under the existing economic or family migration and reunion rules. They will be expected to meet the eligibility requirements of their chosen route, which may include paying relevant fees and charges, and providing their biometrics.</p><p>The family Immigration Rules also allow a person to enter a spouse or partner visa if a couple have been in a relationship akin to marriage and have resided together for a two-year period prior to the application date. The two-year period does not have to be the immediate two years prior to the application date.</p><p>Information for those wishing to apply to enter or remain in the UK as a spouse or partner is available on GOV.UK at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/partner-spouse" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/partner-spouse</a></p><p>A full policy statement on this matter published on 13 September 2021 can be found here: <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>Further information on the opening of the ARCS can be found in the Oral Statement <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/oral-statement-on-the-afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/oral-statement-on-the-afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 100480 100481 100482 100483 100484 100485 question first answered 18/01/2022 17:14:44 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1466484

	registered interest
	date	26/05/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Rwanda
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she will publish the terms of reference for the UK-Rwanda partnership's monitoring committee.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Hallam
	tabling member printed	Olivia Blake
	uin	10048
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2022 answer text <p>An independent Monitoring Committee will monitor the entire relocation process and compliance with assurances in the Memorandum of Understanding, including the processing of asylum claims and provision of support in Rwanda.</p><p>The terms of reference and membership of the Monitoring Committee for the Migration and Economic Development Partnership are in the process of being developed. The Monitoring Committee is due to become operational in the coming months. More details on this will be set out in due course.</p><p>Membership of the Monitoring Committee will be decided upon and shared in due course.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove grouped question UIN 10049 10050 question first answered 06/06/2022 15:44:36 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4864 label Biography information for Olivia Blake

418473

	registered interest
	date	11/09/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Criminal Injuries Compensation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many victims of (a) human trafficking for non-sexual exploitation and (b) forced labour, slavery and servitude have been awarded compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority since 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	10048
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/09/2015 answer text <p>The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority cannot provide data on the compensation it has awarded to victims of a particular crime type. This is because it awards compensation in line with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme tariff of injuries rather than the type of incident that led to those injuries.</p> answering member constituency Staffordshire Moorlands answering member printed Karen Bradley question first answered 17/09/2015 11:30:02 answering member 4110 label Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield