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

1204728

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2020
	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, what feedback mechanism her Department has put in place for asylum seekers to communicate how well the Department has met their needs throughout their application process; and what recent assessment her Department has made of the quality of the support it provides to asylum seekers.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	60879
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2020 answer text <p>UKVI uses feedback from complaints, reports and audits, surveys and customer focus groups to make sure that we are continually improving the service we provide to those who seek asylum in the UK.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>UKVI work closely with our key partners and stakeholders to seek and share this feedback to identify ways in which we can improve the quality of experience of people seeking asylum in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>We have recently set up a Customer Experience Management Team, based across the UK, who will work closely on a local level with stakeholders, to identify key areas to improve the overall experience for people seeking asylum in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute are provided with free accommodation and a weekly cash allowance to cover their other essential living needs. With effect from 15 June, the allowance was raised from £37.75 to £39.60, an increase of around 5%. The increase is significantly higher than general inflation, which Office of National Statistics data shows was only 0.8% in the 12 months period to April 2020. Food inflation over the same period was only 1.4%. Asylum seekers also receive free NHS healthcare and free education for their children.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 22/06/2020 15:56:54 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1247017

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2020
	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, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of granting the right to work to asylum seekers and their adult dependents after six months of having lodged an asylum claim without the constraints of the Shortage Occupation List.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	109701
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2020 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 question first answered 05/11/2020 13:42:57 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1252755

	registered interest
	date	17/11/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Yarls Wood Immigration Removal Centre
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has for the future of Yarls Wood immigration removal centre and the detention of women under immigration powers there.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	116669
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/11/2020 answer text <p>The immigration removal estate is kept under ongoing review to ensure that the Home Office has sufficient capacity, in the right places and that it provides value for money.</p><p>In August, the pre-existing Short-Term Holding Facility (STHF) at Yarl’s Wood, in which clandestine entrants may be held by UK Visas and Immigration for a short time to resolve their position before being dispersed through appropriate routes, was temporarily expanded to incorporate the whole site. At this time Yarl’s Wood was operated solely in accordance with the STHF Rules 2018.</p><p>In light of changing demands in the immigration removal estate and in line with business recovery, we have now transitioned part of the Yarl’s Wood site back to an immigration removal centre for women.</p><p>In order to meet operational needs and demands, we will continue to operate the immigration removal estate, including Yarl’s Wood, in a flexible manner and in line with the STHF Rules 2018 and the Detention Centre Rules 2001, as appropriate.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 25/11/2020 14:16:42 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1270820

	registered interest
	date	14/12/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Immigration: Afghanistan
	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 on the length of time it will take for family members of people settled in the UK under the Afghan Ex Gratia scheme to be relocated to the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	129122
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2020 answer text <p>The process of identifying family members suitable for relocation is a complicated one which requires employing departments of HM Government to identify family members, in addition to the verification of documents under challenging circumstances in Afghanistan.</p><p>The process of relocation has inevitably been impacted by COVID-19.Once a decision is made on whether family members qualify for relocation, those approved will be brought to the UK when suitable accommodation has been sourced and support arrangements for arrival are in place.</p><p>The Home Office does not publish data on the volume of applications it receives - and approves - under the scheme.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 129123 question first answered 17/12/2020 09:13:44 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1270821

	registered interest
	date	14/12/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Immigration: 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 66 spousal applications and 58 child applications being processed for family members of people settled in the UK under the Afghan Ex Gratia scheme have had a decision made on their case.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	129123
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2020 answer text <p>The process of identifying family members suitable for relocation is a complicated one which requires employing departments of HM Government to identify family members, in addition to the verification of documents under challenging circumstances in Afghanistan.</p><p>The process of relocation has inevitably been impacted by COVID-19.Once a decision is made on whether family members qualify for relocation, those approved will be brought to the UK when suitable accommodation has been sourced and support arrangements for arrival are in place.</p><p>The Home Office does not publish data on the volume of applications it receives - and approves - under the scheme.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 129122 question first answered 17/12/2020 09:13:46 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1271233

	registered interest
	date	15/12/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Fire and Rescue Services: Recruitment
	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 an assessment of the potential merits of allocating funding to fire and rescue services to enable the recruitment of 5,000 additional frontline firefighters.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	130243
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2021 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that fire and rescue services have the resources and support they need to carry out their vital roles and to keep people safe.</p><p>Overall, fire and rescue authorities will receive around £2.3 billion in 2021/22. Standalone fire and rescue authorities will see an increase in core spending power of 2.6% in cash terms this year compared to 2020/21.</p><p>It is the responsibility of fire and rescue services to ensure that they have they have the appropriate number of firefighters to deliver their core functions across prevention, protection and response. There were 2,845 new firefighters in England in 2019/20, Equivalent to 8% of all firefighters.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 11/01/2021 15:41:41 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1271853

	registered interest
	date	16/12/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Undocumented Migrants
	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 the (a) reintroduction of the 14 Year Residency Rule for undocumented migrants and (b) amnesty for undocumented migrants previously proposed by the Prime Minister.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	130851
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2021 answer text <p>The Government welcomes those who migrate to the UK through safe and legal routes, yet is committed to deterring illegal immigration which undermines both the system of immigration control and public confidence in it.</p><p>There are already several ways in which migrants who have lived in the UK for a long period can regularise their stay under the Immigration Rules providing certain requirements are met.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 11/01/2021 14:38:04 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1282548

	registered interest
	date	01/02/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Napier Barracks
	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 was aware of the presence of asbestos at Napier barracks in Kent when it authorised the site to house people seeking asylum in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	147079
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2021 answer text <p>We expect the highest standards from our providers and we provide asylum seekers with safe, warm, suitable accommodation that is fit for purpose and correctly equipped in line with existing asylum accommodation standards and contractual requirements.</p><p>Risk assessments for the site included consideration of asbestos, given as with many older properties the possibility that asbestos may be present. The risk assessment concluded there was minimal risk through use of the buildings.</p><p>In tackling the fire on 29 January, Kent Fire and Rescue Services confirmed that the risk from asbestos remained minimal, and firefighters followed full asbestos procedures and protocols in the course of their duties.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 04/02/2021 15:12:57 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1283474

	registered interest
	date	03/02/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Napier Barracks
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what reports the Government has commissioned to assess the suitability of Napier Barracks as a centre for asylum seeker accommodation.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	148929
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2021 answer text <p>As required by law, we provide asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute with accommodation which is safe, secure and fit-for-purpose, paid for by the taxpayer.</p><p>We welcome independent scrutiny of our sites, processes and procedures; and routinely facilitate inspections from relevant bodies to assure ourselves of the ongoing safety and suitability of the accommodation and services we provide.</p><p>The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) recently launched a call for evidence on the use of hotels and military barracks as contingency asylum accommodation. The Home Office have received a formal notice of inspection from the ICIBI. The Home Office will work with the ICIBI and his inspection team to facilitate full access to our asylum accommodation estate.</p><p>An independent rapid review was also recently conducted to assure ourselves of the extensive COVID-19 protocols in place to safeguard the health and safety of asylum seekers during the pandemic.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office is currently reviewing and acting upon the recommendations of the review and, as previously stated, will seek to publish a summary of the recommendations in due course. We will also hold round tables with stakeholders to discuss the recommendations, actions taken and proposed next steps.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office will continue to carefully review the operation of the site and will make any improvements necessary. We continue to work closely with our provider and partners to identify opportunities for improvement, as we do across our entire accommodation estate.</p><p> </p><p>Asylum seekers who are accommodated at Napier receive an induction which outlines the process for raising complaints. A booklet available in ten languages detailing the process is also issued to new arrivals.</p><p>All asylum seekers have access to a 24/7 AIRE (Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility) service provided for the Home Office by Migrant Help, where complaints or concerns can be raised, including reporting issues with their accommodation. Migrant Help will then refer the report to the relevant accommodation provider through a designated point of contact.</p><p>Community support workers at the site can also support asylum seekers in accessing the AIRE service to raise a complaint. Providers’ staff will make clear to asylum seekers that registering a complaint will not affect their asylum claim.</p><p>The provider will then seek to resolve any complaint, within five working days of receipt, and will inform the service user and Migrant Help of the action taken and any subsequent action necessary.</p><p>As part of our robust contract compliance measures, providers are required to regularly report to us on complaints handling and support any audits or quality reviews that we may undertake.</p><p>The Home Office does not publish statistics relating to complaints raised by those accommodated at Napier Barracks.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 148930 148932 148933 question first answered 08/02/2021 10:27:13 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1283477

	registered interest
	date	03/02/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Napier Barracks
	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 publish any reports commissioned to determine the suitability of Napier Barracks as a centre for asylum seeker accommodation.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	148930
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2021 answer text <p>As required by law, we provide asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute with accommodation which is safe, secure and fit-for-purpose, paid for by the taxpayer.</p><p>We welcome independent scrutiny of our sites, processes and procedures; and routinely facilitate inspections from relevant bodies to assure ourselves of the ongoing safety and suitability of the accommodation and services we provide.</p><p>The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) recently launched a call for evidence on the use of hotels and military barracks as contingency asylum accommodation. The Home Office have received a formal notice of inspection from the ICIBI. The Home Office will work with the ICIBI and his inspection team to facilitate full access to our asylum accommodation estate.</p><p>An independent rapid review was also recently conducted to assure ourselves of the extensive COVID-19 protocols in place to safeguard the health and safety of asylum seekers during the pandemic.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office is currently reviewing and acting upon the recommendations of the review and, as previously stated, will seek to publish a summary of the recommendations in due course. We will also hold round tables with stakeholders to discuss the recommendations, actions taken and proposed next steps.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office will continue to carefully review the operation of the site and will make any improvements necessary. We continue to work closely with our provider and partners to identify opportunities for improvement, as we do across our entire accommodation estate.</p><p> </p><p>Asylum seekers who are accommodated at Napier receive an induction which outlines the process for raising complaints. A booklet available in ten languages detailing the process is also issued to new arrivals.</p><p>All asylum seekers have access to a 24/7 AIRE (Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility) service provided for the Home Office by Migrant Help, where complaints or concerns can be raised, including reporting issues with their accommodation. Migrant Help will then refer the report to the relevant accommodation provider through a designated point of contact.</p><p>Community support workers at the site can also support asylum seekers in accessing the AIRE service to raise a complaint. Providers’ staff will make clear to asylum seekers that registering a complaint will not affect their asylum claim.</p><p>The provider will then seek to resolve any complaint, within five working days of receipt, and will inform the service user and Migrant Help of the action taken and any subsequent action necessary.</p><p>As part of our robust contract compliance measures, providers are required to regularly report to us on complaints handling and support any audits or quality reviews that we may undertake.</p><p>The Home Office does not publish statistics relating to complaints raised by those accommodated at Napier Barracks.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 148929 148932 148933 question first answered 08/02/2021 10:27:13 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana