Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1278194

registered interest
date	19/01/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people are awaiting (a) an initial decision and (b) a further review of their claim for asylum; and what steps she is taking to ensure claims are assessed (i) fairly and (ii) within an appropriate timeframe.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	140020
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2021 answer text <p>The Home Office publishes data on the number asylum applications awaiting an initial decision or further review and can be found at Asy_04 of the published Immigration Statistics, Asylum applications awaiting a decision, by duration:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets#asylum-applications-decisions-and-resettlement" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets#asylum-applications-decisions-and-resettlement</a></p><p>There are a number of factors that contribute to the length of time to process asylum claims but we are determined to clear the outstanding cases, speed up decisions and prevent people becoming stuck in the system for long periods of time.</p><p>We are working to streamline cases and have already made significant progress in prioritising cases with acute vulnerability, those in receipt of the greatest level of support including, Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children, and those that require a reconsideration.</p><p>Asylum Operations has developed a recovery plan focused on returning interviews and decisions back to pre-COVID-19 levels as soon as possible. We are also seeking to secure temporary resources to assist from within the Home Office and other government departments, along with other potential options. We are also progressing transformation plans and looks at ways to reform a broken system.<em> </em></p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 25/01/2021 14:20:30 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1278195

registered interest
date	19/01/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has (a) identified and (b) made an assessment of asylum claimants from certain nationalities or groups who could be offered protection without the need for a lengthy interview process; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	140021
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2021 answer text <p>The Home Office carefully considers all asylum claims on a case by case basis, irrespective of their nationality or group, based on their individual merits, against a background of relevant case law and up to date country information.</p><p>In most asylum cases we will ask the claimant to complete a Preliminary Information Questionnaire (PIQ). Children who claim asylum are asked to complete a Statement of Evidence Form (SEF). The information contained in the PIQ (or SEF) will be used alongside all of the other evidence already held about the claim to help determine whether or not it is appropriate to omit an asylum interview.</p><p>The criteria for when a substantive asylum interview can be omitted are contained in Paragraph 339NA of the Immigration Rules and include cases where we are able to take a positive decision on the basis of evidence available, or if the claimant is unfit or unable to be interviewed owing to enduring circumstances beyond their control. It would be inappropriate to adopt a blanket approach to certain nationalities or groups because of the differing circumstances of each claim.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 25/01/2021 14:30:10 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1278196

registered interest
date	19/01/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: LGBT+ People
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 made an assessment of the effect on the mental health of LGBT+ asylum applicants of (a) delays to asylum interviews and (b) the asylum interview process.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	140022
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2021 answer text <p><strong>In respect to the time taken from registering a protection claim to the point of asylum interview, no assessment of the effect on the mental health of LGBT+ asylum applicants has been made. </strong></p><p>There are a number of factors that contribute to the length of time to process asylum claims but we are determined to clear the backlog, speed up decisions and prevent people becoming stuck in the system for long periods of time. We have already made significant progress in prioritising cases with acute vulnerability.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Our published policy guidance on both the asylum interview process for all claimants and our policy guidance products specifically in respect to LGBT+ claims are currently being updated. </strong>Both policies have been considered in line with our Public-Sector Equality Duty (PSED) in respect to LGBT+ individuals.</p><p>Our policy recognises that for applicants affirming an LGBT+ identity, they may not have spoken about intimate personal issues before and may have experienced hostile cultural, societal, familial and religious norms concerning the expression of LGBT+ identities in their home countries. This means it may be difficult for them to be open about their feelings, experiences and their fears of persecution during the interview process. Our policy, therefore, requires that account is taken of all relevant factors when establishing the applicants claim including any health issues that may be raised.</p><p> </p><p>We provide extensive training to our caseworkers to ensure they can sensitively explore an individual’s sexual and/or gender identity and in considering how sexuality or a transgender identity can give rise to persecutory harm.</p><p> </p><p>As part of our improvements to customer service, asylum interviews have been conducted via video conference (VC) from regional interview hubs since 2015. The suitability of a VC interview will be assessed using evidence submitted by the claimant or their legal representative prior to the interview, along with any ongoing or identified safeguarding concerns. Where a claimant is identified as being unsuitable for a VC interview because there are safeguarding concerns or factors that may prevent them from disclosing sensitive information, an in-person interview will be arranged.</p><p> </p><p>Our interview process, irrespective of whether it is conducted by VC or face to face facilitates early signposting of safeguarding concerns to appropriate agencies who can support LGBT+ individuals and where medical evidence concerning an applicant’s vulnerability is brought to our attention, any request to prioritise a case will be taken into account.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 25/01/2021 14:22:54 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1278197

registered interest
date	19/01/2021
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 stakeholder views have been included in her Department’s review of its policy on asylum-seekers’ right to work; and when she plans to publish that review.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	140023
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2021 answer text <p>Asylum seeker right to work is a complex issue. A review of the policy is ongoing, and we are considering the evidence put forward on the issue. The findings of the review will be announced once the work has been completed</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 140025 question first answered 25/01/2021 14:26:13 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1278199

registered interest
date	19/01/2021
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, how many people awaiting a decision on their asylum application have the right to work.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	140024
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2021 answer text <p>Asylum seekers can work in the UK if their claim has been outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own. Those allowed to work are restricted to jobs on the Shortage Occupation List, which is published by the Home Office and based on expert advice from the Migration Advisory Committee.</p><p>The Home Office are unable to state how many people awaiting a decision on their asylum application have the right to work as this information is not held in a reportable format and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.</p><p>The Home Office do publish data on the number asylum applications awaiting an initial decision or further review and can be found at Asy_04 of the published Immigration Statistics, Asylum applications awaiting a decision, by duration:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets#asylum-applications-decisions-and-resettlement" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets#asylum-applications-decisions-and-resettlement</a></p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 25/01/2021 14:18:08 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1278200

registered interest
date	19/01/2021
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, what estimate her Department has made of the potential additional tax revenues that would result from abolishing the restriction requiring asylum-seekers to only enter employment which is on the Shortage Occupation List.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	140025
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2021 answer text <p>Asylum seeker right to work is a complex issue. A review of the policy is ongoing, and we are considering the evidence put forward on the issue. The findings of the review will be announced once the work has been completed</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 140023 question first answered 25/01/2021 14:26:13 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1278261

registered interest
date	19/01/2021
answering body	House of Commons Commission
answering dept id	18
answering dept short name	House of Commons Commission
answering dept sort name	House of Commons Commission
hansard heading	Remote Divisions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 18 January 2021 to Question 136483 on Remote Divisions, what information the Commission holds on how many hon. Members were (a) unable to use the electronic method of voting and (b) used the back-up system provided for electronic voting during the two weeks that electronic voting was used in the House of Commons in 2020; what discussions the Commission has had with the Leader of the House on electronic voting in the House of Commons during the period of the national covid-19 lockdown that has been in place since January 2021 to help prevent the transmission of covid-19; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	140026
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2021 answer text <p>Electronic voting was used for 10 divisions between 12 May and 20 May inclusive. Members voted using MemberHub. The Public Bill Office operated a back-up system: if a Member could not register their vote using MemberHub, they contacted the Public Bill Office during the division and their vote was recorded. The table below shows how many Members registered their vote using the back-up method, and the total number of votes cast in each division.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Date</p></td><td><p>Division number</p></td><td><p>Total votes cast</p></td><td><p>Votes cast using back-up system</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>12 May 2020</p></td><td><p>41</p></td><td><p>611</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>13 May 2020</p></td><td><p>42</p></td><td><p>605</p></td><td><p>4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>43</p></td><td><p>574</p></td><td><p>6</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>44</p></td><td><p>419</p></td><td><p>6</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>45</p></td><td><p>571</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>18 May 2020</p></td><td><p>46</p></td><td><p>603</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>20 May 2020</p></td><td><p>47</p></td><td><p>608</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>48</p></td><td><p>614</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>49</p></td><td><p>609</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>50</p></td><td><p>585</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br>The Commission received an update on the House Service’s response to the pandemic at its meeting on 11 January, and agreed a number of measures to further improve the safety of people on the Parliamentary estate. Electronic voting was raised at the meeting, and there is a range of views among Commissioners on this issue. However, the means by which Divisions are conducted are ultimately a matter for the House to determine.</p> answering member constituency Perth and North Perthshire answering member printed Pete Wishart question first answered 21/01/2021 17:59:38 answering member 1440 label Biography information for Pete Wishart
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1278268

registered interest
date	19/01/2021
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	British Nationals Abroad: EU Countries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 18 January 2021 to Question 134406 on British Nationals Abroad: EU Countries, if he will make it his policy to assess whether the tax that UK individuals residing in the EU who dispose of their sole residence in an EU country may be subject to in their country of residence has increased or decreased since the UK left the EU; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	140027
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2021 answer text <p>The Government has no plans to begin assessing the tax owed by individuals in other jurisdictions. The level of tax paid in other countries by UK nationals on property they own there will depend on the individual’s circumstances, and the tax rules applicable in that country.</p><p> </p><p>Anyone selling an overseas property should continue, as before the UK left the EU, to consult the tax authority or advisers in that country for information on any tax due.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 25/01/2021 14:39:13 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1278375

registered interest
date	19/01/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Migrants: Sleeping Rough
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 12 January 2021 to Question 131225, if she will include in the guidance to be published on the Immigration Rule which makes provision for the discretionary refusal or cancellation of permission to stay in the UK on the grounds of rough sleeping, content stating that that Rule should only be used sparingly, and as a last resort where a person sleeping rough refuses offers of support and engages in persistent anti-social behaviour.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	140028
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2021 answer text <p>Guidance on the application of the new Immigration Rule relating to rough sleeping will be issued in due course and will make clear to decision-makers the circumstances in which permission to enter or stay in the UK may be cancelled on the basis of rough sleeping.</p><p>The Home Office and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government are working together to encourage local authorities and approved charities to resolve the immigration status of eligible rough sleepers and unlock access to any benefits and entitlements that rough sleepers may be eligible for.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 140029 question first answered 25/01/2021 14:34:46 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1278376

registered interest
date	19/01/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Migrants: Sleeping Rough
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 12 January 2021 to Question 131225, what discussions she has had with organisations seeking to help people who are sleeping rough on the effect of the Immigration Rule which makes provision for the discretionary refusal or cancellation of permission to stay in the UK on the grounds of rough sleeping; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	140029
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2021 answer text <p>Guidance on the application of the new Immigration Rule relating to rough sleeping will be issued in due course and will make clear to decision-makers the circumstances in which permission to enter or stay in the UK may be cancelled on the basis of rough sleeping.</p><p>The Home Office and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government are working together to encourage local authorities and approved charities to resolve the immigration status of eligible rough sleepers and unlock access to any benefits and entitlements that rough sleepers may be eligible for.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 140028 question first answered 25/01/2021 14:34:46 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas