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 printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

515512

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: EU Law
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of Amnesty International's report <i>Trapped in Greece: an avoidable refugee Crisis</i> of April 2016, in particular concerning the EU and the Dublin III Regulations on Family Reunion.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
	uin	HL7892
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2016 answer text <p>There is no official estimate of the number of children in Calais; this is primarily a matter for the French authorities. It is only possible to assess whether an individual has links to the UK that could enable a transfer on family unity grounds once they make an application for asylum in France.</p><p>Once an asylum claim is lodged in another Member State, the Dublin Regulation procedure requesting the UK to take charge of a child on family unity grounds can take place very quickly, often in a matter of weeks, subject to consideration of the evidence in each individual case.</p><p>Since February 2016 the UK has accepted 30 requests from France under the Dublin Regulation to take charge of asylum seeking children on family grounds of which 23 have already been transferred to the UK. We are working closely with the French Government and NGOs, including on a joint communications campaign to inform migrants of their options and we provided a senior UK asylum official to the French Government who has put processes in place to support an efficient procedure.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon grouped question UIN HL7890 question first answered 04/05/2016 14:03:34 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

518790

	registered interest
	date	18/05/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Turkey: Migrants
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what reports they have received concerning the welfare of refugees and migrants removed from Greece to Turkey, in the light of reports that some are being detained in camps at Düziçi and elsewhere, without access to legal advice or medical services.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
	uin	HL84
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/05/2016 answer text <p>The Government takes very seriously any allegations of the inappropriate treatment of migrants or refugees, and we would urge any evidence substantiating the allegations to be made available to us and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). We note Turkey’s strong assurances about the treatment of migrants and refugees in its camps and removal centres. And also note the recent agreements reached betweenTurkey, the European Commission and the UNHCR, providing them with access to the Düziçi Camp and Kirklareli Removal Centre, and the UNHCR’s positive view following its initial visit. We will be following the outcome of future visits closely.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 27/05/2016 10:58:13 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

520565

	registered interest
	date	23/05/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Brexit
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what response they have made to the British Red Cross campaign Torn Apart; and in particular whether they now plan to widen family reunion rules to include children over 18 years of age who previously lived with their parents.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
	uin	HL203
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2016 answer text <p>There are no plans to extend the family reunion criteria. The current policy meets our international obligations and strikes the right balance. Where family members cannot meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules, such as in the case of an 18 year old applying to join their refugee parents in the UK, we consider whether there are exceptional circumstances or compassionate reasons to justify granting entry clearance outside the Rules.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 08/06/2016 12:44:30 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

520567

	registered interest
	date	23/05/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Cotonou Agreement
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of action being taken in Greece to (1) increase capacity for processing asylum applications, (2) speed up family reunion cases from Greece to all EU member states, and (3) improve reception and living conditions for refugees and migrants.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
	uin	HL205
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2016 answer text <p>We welcome the action that is being taken in Greece to: increase capacity for processing asylum applications; speed up family reunion cases from Greece to all EU member states; and improve reception and living conditions for refugees and migrants.</p><p>The UK continues to support Greece and other Member States. As notified in my statement of 21 April, HCWS687, 75 UK expert personnel will be deployed to Greece to support implementation of the EU-Turkey Migration Agreement and will conduct a number of duties. A proportion of the UK expert personnel will work closely with European Asylum Support Officer (EASO) coordinators and the Greek Asylum Service to process cases through the admissibility process and provide expert support to the Greek authorities and other EU partners on overall co-ordination of the response. Supporting the operation of the Greek asylum service is a fundamental part of this Government’s approach to identifying individuals in need of protection at the earliest possible opportunity and ensuring they are identified as eligible for family reunification consideration under the terms of Dublin Regulation.</p><p>This deployment is in addition to the support that we are already providing to the Greek asylum service. Two UK experts have already been deployed to the Greek Dublin Unit and have provided valuable assistance. A third was due to be deployed, however, EASO has informed us that support to the Greek Dublin Unit is currently at full complement. We stand ready to deploy further experts as soon as they are required. We are confident that through our cooperation and concerted joint efforts we can identify and facilitate the swift transfers of cases through our national systems and make effective use of the Dublin Regulation.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 08/06/2016 12:45:40 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

523707

	registered interest
	date	07/06/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Worldpay
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in family reunion cases, they are considering providing entry visas valid for longer than 30 days, to enable visa holders to complete all the required exit procedures and necessary travel arrangements.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
	uin	HL522
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2016 answer text <p>We issue a flexible 30-day visa to non-EEA nationals coming from overseas to stay in the UK for over six months to enable them to collect their biometric residence permits (BRP) shortly after they arrive in the UK.</p><p>When a family reunion application is made, individuals can specify the date they would like the 30-day visa to start to enable them to make any necessary travel arrangements, including obtaining exit visas. The start date of the visa can be deferred for up to three months from the date of application. If there is any delay expected in the processing time of the application, the individual will be contacted by UKVI and informed about the delay. Where someone is unable to make arrangements to travel to the UK within the 30 day period, they can apply for a replacement visa.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 16/06/2016 14:56:52 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

524615

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Financial Services: Education
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they and other EU member states are taking to increase the number of competent interpreters available for interviewing and assessing refugees on (1) the islands and mainland of Greece, and (2) in south-east Europe.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
	uin	HL648
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2016 answer text <p>The UK continues to assist Member States facing particular migratory pressures and has responded to the request by the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) for Member States to provide interpreters to support the function of the Greek asylum system.</p><p>The UK has offered up to 20 interpreters to help with the processing of migrants on the Greek Islands, a number of whom have already been deployed. We are working with EASO, the Greeks and the European Commission to plan further deployments. We also continue to work with Greece and the European Commission on how the UK can most effectively bolster their operational and deployment plan(s) and are very clear that we stand ready to do more.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 24/06/2016 12:23:40 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

524616

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	EURATOM
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to speed up family reunions for refugees and migrants now in Europe, particularly in Greece, Italy and France; and whether special provision has been made for the 1,400 unaccompanied children in Greece, and households headed by women.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
	uin	HL649
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2016 answer text <p>The Goverment continues to work with key EU Member States to ensure the Dublin Regulation family reunification process works effectively.</p><p>Under the UK-France Joint Declaration of 20 August 2015, the UK and France have committed to ensuring that provisions of the Dublin III Regulation are used efficiently and effectively. To assist the handling of such cases, the two Governments have established a permanent official contact group, agree single points of contact within respective Dublin Units and a UK asylum expert was seconded to the French administration to faciliate the improvement of all stages of the process. The UK and France are running regular joint communication campaigns in northern France which inform unaccompanied children and others of their right to claim asylum in France and the family reunion process.</p><p>We are also providing support to the Dublin units in Greece and Italy, both bilaterally and through European Asylum Support Office (EASO).</p><p>On the 4 May the Prime Minister announced the Goverment will work with local authorities on plans to resettle unaccompanied refugee children from Europe. We are looking to transfer children who are already present in Europe before the EU-Turkey deal came into force on 20 March.</p><p>Ministers and senior officials are engaged in ongoing discussions with Greece, Italy, and France to identify and transfer to the UK unaccompanied refugee children where it is in their best interests. We are also consulting local authorities, non-governmental organsitations, UNICEF and UNHCR.</p><p>The UK is the largest bilateral contributor to the humanitarian response to the crisis in Europe and the Balkans with a total contribution of £65 million. This includes nearly £46 million to provide life saving aid to migrants and refugees including food, water, hygiene kits and infant packs, and protection for the most vunerable, as well as support to organisations helping goverments build their capacity to manage arrivals in Greece and the Balkans. The efforts of the partners we fund are targeted to reach the most vulnerable including children.</p><p>It also includes the £10 million Refugee Children Fund the Department for International Development (DFID) has created the needs to vulnerable refugee and migrant children specifically in Europe. The fund will support three specialist and mandated organisations the UNHCR, Save the Children and the International Rescue Committee to work with host authorities to care for and assist unaccompanied or separated children in Europe and the Balkans.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 27/06/2016 16:26:16 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

524617

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	EURATOM
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect the new draft EU Resettlement Scheme to be made public; and what progress, if any, has been made in re-opening EU frontiers.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
	uin	HL650
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2016 answer text <p>We understand the Commission are going to bring out a legislative proposal on resettlement with a Title V legal base shortly. We will consider the detail of the proposal once published.</p><p>The Schengen States agreed on 12 May that certain Schengen internal border controls in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Sweden and Norway can remain raised until November.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 24/06/2016 12:23:13 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

525087

	registered interest
	date	14/06/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Electoral Register: Northern Ireland
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 13 June (HL Deb, col 1000–1002), what plans they have to remove the supply of illegal drugs and psychoactive substances from the control of organised criminals throughout the world; and what consultations they have had at an international level about achieving that goal.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
	uin	HL674
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2016 answer text <p>Her Majesty's Government is deeply concerned about the involvement of Organised Criminal Groups (OCGs) in facilitating the trafficking of both psychoactive substances and illegal drugs.</p><p>The UK works internationally with a range of partners to tackle the involvement of OCGs in drug trafficking using both bilateral and multilateral policy levers; including the UN and EU. We also have strong operational links with law enforcement partners in other countries. This work includes the sharing of operational information and expertise, the provision on capacity building, and policy dialogue.</p><p>We have committed to implementing The Psychoactive Substances Act, which commenced on 26 May 2016, and are monitoring law enforcement activity to determine what impact the Act has already had. The 2010 Drug Strategy also commits us to 'combat the international flow of drugs to the UK, collaborating with international partners to disrupt drug trafficking upstream', and the 2013 Serious and Organised Crime Strategy highlights that 'capacity building, across government and in coordination with other states, is essential'. International engagement underpins the delivery of these strategies.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 24/06/2016 12:31:07 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

532328

	registered interest
	date	04/07/2016
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Business: Regulation
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Hungary has ratified the UN Convention on Refugees; and whether they will make representations to the government of Hungary about not expelling any applicants for asylum before their cases have been examined and decided.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
	uin	HL925
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2016 answer text <p>According to the UNHCR’s online list of participating States Hungary acceded to the 1951 Convention and 1967 Protocol on 14 March 1989.</p><p>The EU Procedures Directive sets out when a Member State may declare an asylum claim inadmissible, including when it is permissible to return an asylum applicant to a safe third country. Hungary is also bound by the EU Returns Directive, which includes safeguards for individuals facing removal from participating States.</p><p>Member States' implementation and compliance with EU legislation is a matter for the European Commission and the European Court of Justice. The Government has no plans to make representations to the Government of Hungary on this issue.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 14/07/2016 13:03:35 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton