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1463663

registered interest
date	17/05/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Applications
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 resolve delays to processing of (a) visa applications for highly skilled workers and (b) visa sponsor licences.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	3539
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/06/2022 answer text <p>Performance and efficiency of visa and sponsor licence processing is continually reviewed to ensure performance is as strong as possible.</p><p>Information on our immigration routes with service standards and whether they have been processed against these standards is available as part of our transparency data, at: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fcollections%2Fmigration-transparency-data%23uk-visas-and-immigration&amp;data=05%7C01%7CSheffieldWorkRoutes.PQandFOI%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C54ca7bad7064475ecccd08da38ad4774%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C637884614115383003%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=K5DSDQg3Qqtj3z3CgtSDAHntnMBvGCaztYOHF1052l0%3D&amp;reserved=0#_blank" target="_blank">Migration transparency data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></p><p>We are, however, currently flexing resources across all routes to ensure a robust response to the Ukrainian crisis while still processing standard applications and sponsor licences within service standard wherever possible. As a result, customers with standard applications in study, work, and family routes may experience some temporary impacts to the processing of their application.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 01/06/2022 16:21:45 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster previous answer version 3126 answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

1461876

registered interest
date	11/05/2022
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Agriculture: Regulation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that farmers are (a) consulted on and (b) included in the decision-making process on changes to regulatory requirements on plant protection products.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	676
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2022 answer text <p>Defra regularly engages with farming stakeholders including representative organisations, such as the National Farmers Union and Nature Friendly Farming Network, as well as individual farmers and growers.</p><p> </p><p>In 2021, the Government consulted on the draft <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fconsultations%2Fsustainable-use-of-pesticides-draft-national-action-plan&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C1f5853c1a7c34048c15308da3a35541b%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C637886297963880392%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Ay00ZKKdAOE226MzOY22BrnbjSecTkrD8FTnrQxgj0k%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">National Action Plan for the sustainable use of pesticides</a> (NAP) which sets out the ambition to further minimise the risks and impacts of pesticides to human health and the environment. We received 38,500 responses to this consultation. This included responses from a range of farming stakeholders.</p><p><br> We are planning further engagement with a wide range of key stakeholders, including those from the farming sector, as we prepare to finalise the NAP and in the development of future environmental land management schemes, including the Sustainable Farming Incentive.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 20/05/2022 11:19:43 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

1461885

registered interest
date	11/05/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Academic Freedom
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that freedom of speech is protected in UK universities.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	677
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2022 answer text <p>The government believes that freedom of speech and academic freedom are fundamental pillars of our higher education (HE) system and that protecting these principles should be a priority for universities.</p><p>The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill, introduced on 12 May 2021, will strengthen existing freedom of speech duties and directly address gaps within the existing law. This includes the fact there is no clear way of enforcing the current law when an HE provider breaches it, as well as applying the duties directly to students’ unions and constituent colleges including those at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The Bill introduces a role on the Office for Students board, with responsibility for overseeing its strengthened duties to promote freedom of speech and investigate where potential breaches of the duties occur.</p><p>The changes will introduce clear consequences for breaches of the new duties and ensure that these principles are upheld.</p><p>The Bill will reach report stage in the House of Commons shortly.</p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan question first answered 20/05/2022 12:50:46 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

1461889

registered interest
date	11/05/2022
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Bank Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to help ensure that open banking is able to benefit as many consumers as possible.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	678
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2022 answer text <p>Open Banking is a great UK success story that has brought significant benefits to the 5.5 million UK consumers and businesses who now use products and services enabled by this technology.</p><p> </p><p>The government recently set out its plan for the future of UK Open Banking in a joint statement with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR), including a cross-authority committee for oversight of a new entity to succeed the Open Banking Implementation Entity. Through this Joint Authority Oversight Committee the government and regulators will work closely together to maintain the UK’s leadership in Open Banking. The government is seeking to build on the initial success of UK Open Banking to help unlock and realise further benefits for consumers, businesses, and the wider economy. Open Banking should continue to support innovation and greater competition for consumers and businesses.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 16/05/2022 13:43:19 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

1461890

registered interest
date	11/05/2022
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Ukraine: Humanitarian Aid
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the availability of mechanisms to support charities and individuals seeking to transport donated goods to Ukraine.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	679
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2022 answer text <p>Individuals wanting to support the aid effort in Ukraine are encouraged to do so through donations to trusted charities or existing humanitarian appeals such as the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) and UN appeals, rather than donating goods. Cash can be transferred quickly to areas where it is needed and individuals and aid organisations can use it to buy the items they need the most. Unsolicited donations of goods, although well-meant, can obstruct supply chains and delay more urgent life-saving assistance from getting through. Reputable charities will be able to efficiently utilise existing supply chains and experienced aid workers to reach the people who are most in need. Advice on how individuals can support the Ukraine aid effort is available on: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukraine-what-you-can-do-to-help</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 20/05/2022 13:09:42 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

1461891

registered interest
date	11/05/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Refugees: Ukraine
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to speed up the process of Ukrainian visa applications in circumstances where visas are issued for all but one member of a family, preventing them all from travelling.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	680
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2022 answer text <p>UK Visas and Immigration have received thousands of applications for the Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine Scheme. UKVI are processing the paperwork as quickly as possible, and additional caseworkers have been brought in to manage this demand. UKVI staff are carrying out vital security checks for each application, and these checks are important to keep people safe in the UK, and protect people making journeys from Ukraine</p><p><br> Applications are normally processed in date order from when documents were uploaded, or after an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC). We are working seven days a week to process applications, and where we have applications from family groups we would look to group these decisions together so families receive decisions wherever possible at the same time.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 23/05/2022 10:55:56 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster previous answer version 1738 answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

1461892

registered interest
date	11/05/2022
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Homes for Ukraine Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department is taking steps to prepare for a potential increase in demand for social housing in the event that housing for Ukrainian refugees through the sponsor scheme is unsuitable, or after the initial six month period expires.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	681
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2022 answer text <p>Six months is the minimum period of sponsorship – and the Government will support sponsors including with ‘thank you’ payments for up to 12 months. We are considering how we can best support people beyond the Home For Ukraine scheme.</p> answering member constituency Walsall North answering member printed Eddie Hughes question first answered 18/05/2022 16:05:51 answering member 4635 label Biography information for Eddie Hughes
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

1461893

registered interest
date	11/05/2022
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what progress the Government is making on the implementation of the recommendations of the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	682
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/05/2022 answer text <p>Government has taken steps to embed beauty, design and placemaking in the planning system in response to the recommendations of the Building Better Building Beautiful Commission. This includes revisions to national planning policy and guidance. The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill also requires locally developed design codes, which set clear rules about what development must look like. The Office for Place will support communities in turning their visions of beautiful design into a reality.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 19/05/2022 14:49:34 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

1461894

registered interest
date	11/05/2022
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Public Sector: Cost Effectiveness
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to help ensure public sector bodies are minimising wasteful spending.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	683
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2022 answer text <p>The Government is taking action to tackle waste and inefficiency across the public sector through a comprehensive efficiency agenda overseen by a Chancellor chaired Cabinet Committee on Efficiency and Value for Money. The Government has launched a new programme of Public Body Reviews. Reviews will examine the accountability, efficiency, efficacy and governance of bodies. Reviews will be asked to identify more than 5% recurring efficiencies in resource budgets and are expected to find at least £800m in savings.</p> answering member constituency Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland answering member printed Mr Simon Clarke question first answered 20/05/2022 06:46:01 answering member 4655 label Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

1461895

registered interest
date	11/05/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	HM Passport Office: Standards
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to tackle the backlog of applications in HM Passport Office.
tabling member constituency	Windsor
tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
uin	684
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2022 answer text <p>Ahead of unrestricted international travel returning, HM Passport Office prepared extensively to serve an unprecedented number of customers, with 9.5 million British passport applications forecasted throughout 2022.</p><p>These preparations have ensured that passport applications can be processed in higher numbers than ever before. This was demonstrated in March and April 2022 when HM Passport Office achieved record outputs by completing the processing of two million applications.</p><p>Ministers continue to meet regularly with officials to monitor performance, and to explore further options which will help to ensure people receive their passports in good time</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 23/05/2022 10:23:41 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster previous answer version 1736 answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie