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101732

registered interest
date	30/10/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Population
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what policies they have to reduce the population size of the United Kingdom.
tabling member printed	Lord Laird
uin	HL2541
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2014 answer text <p>We are clear that uncontrolled immigration makes it difficult to maintain social cohesion, puts pressure on public services and can drive down wages for people on low incomes.</p><p>That is why across government we are working hard to bring net migration down and address the factors which draw people to the UK for the wrong reasons. This government has clamped down on nearly 800 bogus colleges, slashed 45,000 visas from the further education route; and cut family visas by nearly a third since it came to power. Our reforms have cut net migration from outside the EU by nearly a quarter since 2010 – close to levels not seen since the late 1990s.</p><p>Our reforms have also made it more difficult for EU migrants to claim benefits in the UK and, through the landmark Immigration Act, made it tougher for illegal immigrants to remain by restricting access to work, housing, benefits, healthcare, bank accounts and driving licences and making it easier to remove those who have no right to be here by reducing the number of appeals.</p><p>On 28 November the Prime Minister made a speech in which he set out a number of measures a future Conservative Government would take to address EU migration to the UK. The measures proposed include a four year residency requirement before an EU national can access in-work benefits or social housing in the UK, the removal of child benefit for non-resident children of EU nationals, and stronger powers to deport EU criminals and tackle abuse.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 10/12/2014 14:07:17 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	2479 label Biography information for Lord Laird

101734

registered interest
date	30/10/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Mediterranean Sea
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had or plan to have with the governments of Egypt and Tunisia regarding methods of preventing unseaworthy vessels carrying refugees and migrants leaving their shores.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL2543
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/11/2014 answer text <p>On 10 October, the Justice and Home Affairs Council unanimously agreed Council Conclusions on better managing migratory flows into the EU. Those Conclusions place particular emphasis on work with the Tunisian, Egyptian and Libyan authorities to find ways to curtail the supply of vessels from Tunisia and Egypt.</p><p>The EU and Member States are already developing a ‘Mobility Partnership’ with Tunisia. The UK signed the political declaration of this Partnership in March 2014. This Partnership is intended to lead to concrete work with Tunisia the area of migration, including efforts to address the current situation in the Mediterranean.</p><p>The EU and Member States are also seeking an enhanced migration dialogue with Egypt, possibly leading to the development of a similar ‘Mobility Partnership’. To date, however, Egypt has expressed no interest in a Partnership of this kind.</p><p>We also hope to work with both Egypt and Tunisia under the new EU ‘Khartoum Process’, due to be launched at a Ministerial Conference in Rome on 28 November. This new initiative will focus on combating people smuggling and human trafficking in the Horn of Africa.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 18/11/2014 15:12:19 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

101736

registered interest
date	30/10/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Mediterranean Sea
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to prevent further deaths by drowning in the Mediterranean through the mobilisation of aircraft, drones and satellites, and radar.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL2545
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>Governments across the EU have been deeply disturbed by the fourfold increase in deaths since the launch of the 'Mare Nostrum' operation. Efforts to prevent further deaths in the Mediterranean remain focused on national search and rescue activities led and coordinated by the appropriate EU Member State National Coordination Centre. However, Search and Rescue remains outside the competence of the EU or its Agencies, including Frontex. <br><br>These efforts are supported by the new European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR), which was set up to reduce the number of irregular migrants entering the EU undetected; to reduce the number of deaths at the maritime borders by saving more lives at sea, and to increase the internal security of the EU as a whole by contributing to the prevention of cross-border crime. It uses ship reporting systems, satellite imagery and sensors mounted on vehicles, vessels or other craft to help build a shared pre-frontier intelligence picture.<br><br>The UK does not participate in the Eurosur Regulation as that Regulation is limited to the Member States of the Schengen area. However the UK has negotiated an amendment to the Eurosur Regulation which permits the UK to cooperate and exchange information with neighbouring Member States through bilateral or multilateral agreements.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 17/11/2014 12:17:32 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

101737

registered interest
date	30/10/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Mediterranean Sea
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of statements by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Caritas Internationalis, Save the Children Fund and others on the case for effective search and rescue measures to prevent further loss of life in the Mediterranean.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL2546
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government has considered the statements made by the UN High Commissioner and other organisations calling for effective search and rescue measures to prevent further loss of life in the Mediterranean. The Italian Government took the decision to end the current operation, Mare Nostrum, after careful consideration and with the unanimous support of EU Ministers.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 24/11/2014 16:20:33 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

101740

registered interest
date	30/10/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Domestic Abuse
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to compile statistics on the extent of dowry violence in Britain.
tabling member printed	Lord Lester of Herne Hill
uin	HL2549
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>Violence against women and girls, including dowry abuse, is never acceptable and culture is no barrier to arrest and prosecution. The Forced Marriage Unit already collects data on forced marriage, which may include an element of dowry abuse. In 2013, the Unit provided advice or support in 1300 cases. While this does not reflect the full scale of the abuse (as many more cases are not reported), it enables the Unit to support those confident enough to come forward.</p><p>The Home Office is also committed to improving data collection on domestic abuse. Following HMIC’s report, the Home Office has begun work to make collection of data against a national standard on domestic abuse mandatory for all forces from April 2015. This activity will provide the police with a better platform for sharing information on domestic abuse.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 05/11/2014 14:31:43 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	2037 label Biography information for Lord Lester of Herne Hill

101741

registered interest
date	30/10/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Marriage
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider making the payment of dowries by brides' families unlawful.
tabling member printed	Lord Lester of Herne Hill
uin	HL2550
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government is clear that domestic violence and abuse does not just mean physical violence. It can also involve coercive and controlling behaviour, including dowry abuse and other forms of financial abuse. The cross-Government definition of domestic violence and abuse encompasses, but is not limited to, psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse. This definition is used by Government departments to inform policy development, and other agencies, such as the police, to inform the identification of domestic violence cases.</p><p>We have recently consulted on strengthening the law around domestic violence and abuse and are considering our response. Our consideration will include whether there should be a specific offence of domestic abuse and if so, what patterns of behaviour should constitute such abuse.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates grouped question UIN HL2604 question first answered 18/11/2014 15:10:01 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	2037 label Biography information for Lord Lester of Herne Hill

101680

registered interest
date	29/10/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: Finance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that Azure Card users are able to meet their essential living needs; and on what grounds they base their assessment.
tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
uin	HL2502
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2014 answer text <p>Failed asylum seekers supported under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 are provided with accommodation; utilities, household equipment and healthcare are provided free. The Azure Card is provided to enable them to buy food and other items and is uploaded each week to the value of £35.39 for each person in the household. Extra assistance is also provided where necessary, for example by arranging travel to medical appointments and by providing maternity grants for pregnant women.</p><p>The Government keeps this package of assistance under review but is satisfied that it meets the essential living needs of recipients of section 4 support.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 11/11/2014 16:51:54 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

101684

registered interest
date	29/10/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Immigration Controls: Northern Ireland
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they plan to take to ensure that persons preparing to enter Northern Ireland from another country, and who intend to remain for any length of time, are required to declare previous criminal convictions and sentences in their native, or any other, countries, and that such declarations are cross-checked with those countries before entry to Northern Ireland is approved.
tabling member printed	Lord Morrow
uin	HL2506
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2014 answer text <p>Those requiring entry clearance are already required to declare any criminal convictions as a part of the application process. Where an applicant has been convicted and received a prison sentence, this may lead to a mandatory refusal of entry clearance to the UK.</p><p>Her Majesty's Government is focused on improving our access to overseas criminality information and participates in several key EU information exchange mechanisms such as the European Criminal Records System (ECRIS) which has increased this capability, enabling us to remove and prevent the re-entry of EU offenders. The UK is also scheduled to join the Schengen Information System (SIS II) at the end of this year which will further strengthen our borders. ECRIS and SIS II are included in the package of 35 EU justice and home affairs measures that the Government is seeking to remain party to after 1 December, under Protocol 36 of the Treaty of Lisbon.</p><p>We are also leading efforts within the EU to share data on serious offenders, and have signed a number of Information Sharing Agreements with international partners to increase the availability and speed of criminal records exchange.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 20/11/2014 14:48:55 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	3795 label Biography information for Lord Morrow

101685

registered interest
date	29/10/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Police Service of Northern Ireland
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what financial support is available for police officers in Northern Ireland who have had to leave their homes due to security issues, including receipt of death threats, and have been forced to incur debt as a result, through the Scheme for the Purchase of Evacuated Dwellings, negative equity or any other cost or loss through no fault of their own.
tabling member printed	Lord Morrow
uin	HL2507
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2014 answer text <p>This is a devolved matter and is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Department of Justice and Northern Ireland Housing Executive.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 26/11/2014 15:02:23 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	3795 label Biography information for Lord Morrow

101263

registered interest
date	28/10/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Mediterranean Sea
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 15 October (HL1977), what is the evidence for their view that United Kingdom support for search and rescue operations to prevent refugees and migrants drowning in the Mediterranean encourages "more migrants to attempt the dangerous sea crossing".
tabling member printed	Lord Lester of Herne Hill
uin	HL2468
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2014 answer text <p>Search and rescue operations are the responsibility of individual national governments. Since Italy launched its Mare Nostrum operation in October 2013, there has been an unprecedented increase in illegal migration in the Mediterranean and a fourfold increase in deaths.</p><p>The operation has been drawn closer and closer to the Libyan shore, as traffickers have taken advantage of the situation by placing more migrants in unseaworthy boats on the basis that they will be rescued and taken to Italy.</p><p>But many are not rescued, which is why we believe that the operation is having the unintended consequence of placing more lives at risk, and why EU Member States have unanimously agreed that the operation should be promptly phased out. However, any decisions on search and rescue operations are ultimately for the Italian Government and it is of course vital that this phasing out is well-managed and well-publicised.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 11/11/2014 16:50:11 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
tabling member	2037 label Biography information for Lord Lester of Herne Hill