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1688121

registered interest
date	07/02/2024
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: Religion
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the role of the Church of England is on advising on the validity of religious conversion claims where the threat of religious persecution is given as a material basis for the claim.
tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
uin	13490
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2024 answer text <p>All asylum and human rights claims, including those based on religion or belief, are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations, so that we do not remove anyone who faces persecution or serious harm on return to their country of origin.</p><p> </p><p>Detailed Home Office policy guidance provides a framework for considering asylum claims, including those based on religious conversion, and all caseworkers receive extensive training and mentoring support before making such decisions.</p><p>Each individual assessment is made against the background of relevant case law and the latest available country of origin information. This is based on evidence taken from a wide range of reliable sources, including reputable media outlets; local, national, and international organisations, including human rights organisations; and information from the Foreign, Commonwealth &amp; Development Office.</p><p> </p><p>The degree of weight to be given to evidence from church witnesses will depend on how much knowledge and experience a church witness has, and the individuals concerned, and the way in which the claimant may have engaged in church activities. Evidence from a senior church member is not considered to be determinative.</p><p>In such cases, decision-makers must decide whether a conversion is genuine on the balance of probabilities. Decision-makers must consider all evidence in the round, including, where relevant, such factors as the claimant’s participation in church activities, the timing of their conversion, their knowledge of the faith, and the opinions of other members of the congregation as to the genuineness of the conversion.</p><p>Protection is normally granted where a claimant has a well-founded fear of persecution under the Refugee Convention or a claimant faces a real risk of serious harm. Those found not to need protection are refused, and the decision can be subject to legal challenge where appropriate, either via appeal to the independent courts or through a judicial review, depending on the decision in question. Once appeal rights are exhausted, they are liable for removal and enforcement action pursued where necessary.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove grouped question UIN 13489 question first answered 27/02/2024 14:01:17 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

1688122

registered interest
date	07/02/2024
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: 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 and what proportion of migrants who have had their claims for asylum rejected have been returned to Afghanistan in each of the last 10 years.
tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
uin	13491
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/02/2024 answer text <p>The Home Office publishes data on returns in the ‘<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release" target="_blank">Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release</a>’. Data on returns, by destination and year, are published in table Ret_D02 of the ‘<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/immigration-system-statistics-data-tables#returns" target="_blank">Returns detailed datasets</a>’. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates to the end of September 2023. The data is not broken down by asylum-related status.</p><p>Additionally, the Home Office publishes data on asylum outcomes in the same release. Data on asylum refusals by nationality and year of decision are published in table Asy_D02 of the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/immigration-system-statistics-data-tables#asylum-and-resettlement" target="_blank">‘Asylum and resettlement detailed tables’</a>. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates to the end of September 2023. The data do not include information about returns.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 22/02/2024 15:59:36 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

1684017

registered interest
date	22/01/2024
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	Armenia: Azerbaijan
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had recent discussions with his counterpart in Azerbaijan on its proposal for a corridor through Armenia.
tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
uin	10695
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2024 answer text <p>The UK strongly supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both Azerbaijan and Armenia. Addressing challenges in regional connectivity and resolving any remaining border disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan are matters to be resolved between the two countries as part of peace negotiations; I [Minister Docherty] discussed these matters with the Governments of both countries during my visit to Baku and Yerevan in November 2023. Direct dialogue is the only way to both secure stability and security for the region, and promote peaceful co-operation between both countries in the future.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 30/01/2024 17:17:46 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

1682864

registered interest
date	17/01/2024
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	Somaliland: Recognition of States
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will publish conditions for contact with the Government of the Republic of Somaliland on the formal recognition of that state.
tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
uin	9980
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2024 answer text <p>The UK's position on Somaliland's independence is clear; the settlement of Somaliland's status is an issue for Somalia and Somaliland to resolve through dialogue, in which we encourage both sides to engage. It is not for the UK to pre-empt that process or determine its outcome.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 25/01/2024 14:57:57 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

1678240

registered interest
date	14/12/2023
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Immigration: Families
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many family reunion applications have not been processed as of 14 December 2023.
tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
uin	6954
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2023 answer text <p>The Government’s refugee family reunion policy provides a safe and legal route to bring families together.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Information regarding processing times and nationality of applicants is not routinely published and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>We are committed to improving and speeding up processing times for family reunion applications. We are reviewing processes to streamline decision making to enable us to provide a better service to our customers.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove grouped question UIN 6953 question first answered 20/12/2023 10:58:54 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

1677692

registered interest
date	13/12/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Offences against Children: Religion
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when a Minister in her Department last met representatives of the national working group on child abuse linked to faith.
tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
uin	6695
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/12/2023 answer text <p>My hon. Friend, the former Minister for Children and Families, Vicky Ford, met with senior representatives of the national working group on child abuse linked to faith in February 2021. The department has not provided any funding to the national working group.</p><p>​Faith-based abuse, or 'child abuse linked to faith or belief' relates to situations in which a child is abused (physically, emotionally, sexually or by neglect) because of a belief that the child is possessed by evil spirits. Any form of child abuse is abhorrent and cannot be justified. The government is determined to protect children from this abuse, as with any other form of abuse. Where there are concerns that any child is at risk of, or has suffered significant harm, these should be reported to the police or to the local authority children’s social care who should take action. This is outlined in the ‘Working together to safeguard children’ statutory guidance<em>.</em></p><p>The government’s ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’ strategy, published on 2 February 2023, and backed by £200 million investment, set out plans to reform children’s social care, including a commitment to deliver a decisive, multi-agency child protection system for all children.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston grouped question UIN 6696 question first answered 27/12/2023 15:30:36 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

1677693

registered interest
date	13/12/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Offences against Children: Religion
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding the national working group on child abuse linked to faith has received from her Department in each year since 2011.
tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
uin	6696
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/12/2023 answer text <p>My hon. Friend, the former Minister for Children and Families, Vicky Ford, met with senior representatives of the national working group on child abuse linked to faith in February 2021. The department has not provided any funding to the national working group.</p><p>​Faith-based abuse, or 'child abuse linked to faith or belief' relates to situations in which a child is abused (physically, emotionally, sexually or by neglect) because of a belief that the child is possessed by evil spirits. Any form of child abuse is abhorrent and cannot be justified. The government is determined to protect children from this abuse, as with any other form of abuse. Where there are concerns that any child is at risk of, or has suffered significant harm, these should be reported to the police or to the local authority children’s social care who should take action. This is outlined in the ‘Working together to safeguard children’ statutory guidance<em>.</em></p><p>The government’s ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’ strategy, published on 2 February 2023, and backed by £200 million investment, set out plans to reform children’s social care, including a commitment to deliver a decisive, multi-agency child protection system for all children.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston grouped question UIN 6695 question first answered 27/12/2023 15:30:36 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

1676949

registered interest
date	11/12/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Abuse
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the trends in the level of reports of spiritual and ritualistic abuse against children since 2017.
tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
uin	6058
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2023 answer text <p>The National Working Group on Child Abuse Linked to Faith or Belief has been renamed as the National Working Group on Abuse Linked to Accusations of Witchcraft and Spirit Possession. It is independent and the department is invited as an observer.</p><p>The government is determined to protect children from this abuse, as from any other form of abuse. Where there are concerns that any child is at risk of, or has suffered significant harm, these should be reported to the police or to local authority children’s social care who should take action to safeguard and promote their welfare, following the actions outlined in the ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ guidance<em>.</em></p><p>In the Children in Need statistics for the year ending 31 March 2023 published in October 2023, faith-based abuse was identified as an assessment factor in 2,140 episodes of need. Episodes of need are when a child is referred to children’s social care services and is assessed as being in need of children’s social care services. It should be noted that not all episodes of need have assessment factors recorded, but this has improved over time. Nonetheless, there can be differences in the recording practices between local authorities. Therefore, this data should be treated with caution and should not be taken to represent the national prevalence of particular issues. <br> <br> The government’s ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’ strategy, published on 2 February 2023, set out plans to reform children’s social care, including a commitment to deliver a decisive, multi-agency child protection system for all children.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston grouped question UIN 6057 question first answered 18/12/2023 16:34:08 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

1669394

registered interest
date	13/11/2023
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Department of Health and Social Care: China
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether senior officials from her Department have travelled to China since January 2019.
tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
uin	1420
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2023 answer text <p>No senior members of the Department have booked travel to China via the Departments central travel contract between January 2019 and October 2023.</p><p>We have assumed that by Senior Officials you mean those that are above the grade SCS1.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 21/11/2023 15:25:54 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

1669395

registered interest
date	13/11/2023
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Department for Work and Pensions: China
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether senior officials from his Department have travelled to China since January 2019.
tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
uin	1421
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2023 answer text <p>The information required is not retained by Grade. However, the total number of DWP staff that have travelled to China and/or Hong Kong from January 2019 to present is 151, with 2 of these being official business trips.</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 16/11/2023 13:57:45 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton