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1226006

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Overseas Students
	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 increasing flexibility on when and where overseas students can (a) apply for their visa to study in the UK and (b) take their English language tests.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	76086
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/07/2020 answer text <p>From October students will be able to apply for a visa up to six months in advance of the course start date listed on their Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. This is an extension on the current period of three months.</p><p>Students who require a Secure English Language Test (SELT) must obtain a SELT from an approved provider. A SELT test can be obtained from any of the test centres listed in the below list of approved test centres:-https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-applying-for-uk-visa-approved-english-language-tests</p><p>Higher Education Providers (HEP) with a track record of compliance are able to self-assess the English ability of their students at degree level or above. As part of the Covid-19 concessions, we extended this to also permit HEPs to self-assess the English ability of students on pre-sessional courses.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 76087 question first answered 28/07/2020 08:11:17 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1226007

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Overseas Students: English Language
	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 extending flexibilities on English language tests to students on pre-degree further education courses to encourage student visa applications.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	76087
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/07/2020 answer text <p>From October students will be able to apply for a visa up to six months in advance of the course start date listed on their Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. This is an extension on the current period of three months.</p><p>Students who require a Secure English Language Test (SELT) must obtain a SELT from an approved provider. A SELT test can be obtained from any of the test centres listed in the below list of approved test centres:-https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-applying-for-uk-visa-approved-english-language-tests</p><p>Higher Education Providers (HEP) with a track record of compliance are able to self-assess the English ability of their students at degree level or above. As part of the Covid-19 concessions, we extended this to also permit HEPs to self-assess the English ability of students on pre-sessional courses.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 76086 question first answered 28/07/2020 08:11:17 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1366352

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Educational Visits: Immigration Controls
	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 impact of the UK's new immigration rules on the number of school trips from the EU to the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	70295
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2021 answer text <p>As part of the changes to the Immigration Rules in September 2021, we no longer accept national identity cards as a valid travel document from EU, EEA and Swiss visitors to the UK.</p><p> </p><p>An impact assessment was undertaken of this change.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 15/11/2021 16:45:44 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1379461

	registered interest
	date	17/11/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Schools: EU Countries
	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 15 November 2021 to Question 70295 on Schools: EU Countries, what were the results of the impact assessment of the potential impact of the UK's new immigration rules on the number of school trips from the EU to the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	76781
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/11/2021 answer text <p>Further to the answer given on 15 November 2021, the Impact Assessment can be viewed here:</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1016572/ID_cards_removal_-_Impact_Assessment_-_2021.pdf" target="_blank">Impact Assessment (publishing.service.gov.uk)</a></p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 24/11/2021 14:32:44 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1421447

	registered interest
	date	09/02/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	UK Visas and Immigration
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many UKVI MP Account Management cases are currently outstanding past the 20 working day response target.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	121867
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/02/2022 answer text <p>The Department works to a target of responding to 95% of Hon. Members written correspondence within 20 working days.</p><p>Performance has been impacted by a very significant increase in the volume of correspondence received, including the unprecedented amount of correspondence about the situation in Afghanistan. Ministers and officials have also had to instigate a remote process for drafting and signing correspondence during the period of COVID-19 restrictions.</p><p>The Department recognises it has not been able to meet service standard in some cases but has implemented an action plan to clear backlogs and drive up performance. The Department has recruited additional resources and expects to return to answering Hon. Member’s correspondence within service standard by the end of March 2022.</p><p>Data about intake and performance in answering Hon. Members correspondence are published quarterly with the latest Quarter available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/customer-service-operations-data-q3-2021" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/customer-service-operations-data-q3-2021</a></p><p>This includes data up to and including the end of quarter 3 - 2021.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 22/02/2022 11:52:23 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1462113

	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	Registration of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships
	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 ensure same sex partners can register as the mothers of their child on birth certificates.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	912
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2022 answer text <p>Civil registration in the UK is a devolved matter and there are separate systems in place for Scotland and Northern Ireland.</p><p>In England and Wales, a birth entry records the name of the child’s mother and, where certain conditions can be met as set out in law, the name of a second female parent.</p><p>There are currently no plans in England and Wales to change how a mother, father or parent is recorded in birth entries or on birth certificates.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 18/05/2022 11:53:32 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1472065

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Seasonal Workers: Airports
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of providing seasonal visas to address staff shortages in UK airports.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	22496
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/06/2022 answer text <p>We note similar issues with recruitment are being reported at Airports within the EU and the USA, which indicate this would be an ineffective approach compared to focusing on other issues affecting recruitment in the sector, such as the pay and conditions offered to key workers.</p><p>Several roles in the aviation sector are already eligible to be recruited via the Skilled Worker visa.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 28/06/2022 11:34:25 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1472850

	registered interest
	date	23/06/2022
	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 assessment she has made of the potential impact of differential treatment on Ukrainian refugees arriving via the Homes for Ukraine scheme and those arriving through family visas.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	23783
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2022 answer text <p>The Ukraine Family Scheme was set up to ensure family members were able to reunite with family fleeing Ukraine Ahead of the development of the Homes for Ukraine scheme It is based on family visa routes which existed before the Ukraine conflict, where public services are funded out of council budgets and the same principle is applied here.  The UK-based family member is expected to provide support and accommodation for those coming to join them, who in turn benefit from the wider integration advantages in joining an existing family network.</p><p>Ukrainian nationals coming to the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme are given access to work, benefits and public services as laid down in Appendix Ukraine to the Immigration Rules, details of which can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-ukraine-scheme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-ukraine-scheme</a></p><p>Homes for Ukraine on the other hand is a unique scheme which has been set up specifically to support those escaping the conflict in Ukraine who are not able to rely on UK based family support. The Government is providing additional funding to local authorities which includes resource to enable them to carry out sponsorship-specific functions such as safeguarding checks and property checks, administering payments, as well as providing support such as English language training to help their integration into communities.</p><p>We continue to keep the UK Government’s support under review and will adapt and develop the visa routes in place to ensure they keep pace with the situation in Ukraine.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 23784 question first answered 01/07/2022 13:19:16 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1472851

	registered interest
	date	23/06/2022
	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 financial support her Department is providing for Ukrainian refugees arriving in the UK through family visas.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	23784
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2022 answer text <p>The Ukraine Family Scheme was set up to ensure family members were able to reunite with family fleeing Ukraine Ahead of the development of the Homes for Ukraine scheme It is based on family visa routes which existed before the Ukraine conflict, where public services are funded out of council budgets and the same principle is applied here.  The UK-based family member is expected to provide support and accommodation for those coming to join them, who in turn benefit from the wider integration advantages in joining an existing family network.</p><p>Ukrainian nationals coming to the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme are given access to work, benefits and public services as laid down in Appendix Ukraine to the Immigration Rules, details of which can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-ukraine-scheme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-ukraine-scheme</a></p><p>Homes for Ukraine on the other hand is a unique scheme which has been set up specifically to support those escaping the conflict in Ukraine who are not able to rely on UK based family support. The Government is providing additional funding to local authorities which includes resource to enable them to carry out sponsorship-specific functions such as safeguarding checks and property checks, administering payments, as well as providing support such as English language training to help their integration into communities.</p><p>We continue to keep the UK Government’s support under review and will adapt and develop the visa routes in place to ensure they keep pace with the situation in Ukraine.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster grouped question UIN 23783 question first answered 01/07/2022 13:19:16 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1489003

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Passports: Lost Property
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the number of passports handled by the Passport Office lost in the post each year since 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	36061
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2022 answer text <p>The data held for documents lost in the possession of our providers of secure delivery services does not distinguish between newly issued passports and documents whcih were sent in support of an application.</p><p>The table below shows the number of passports and supporting documents that have been confirmed as lost in the possession of a provider of secure delivery services in the UK for each year from 2019:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Confirmed Losses</p></td><td><p>Volume of consignments</p></td><td><p>Percentage of confirmed losses</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>168</p></td><td><p>7,548,768</p></td><td><p>0.002%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020</p></td><td><p>111</p></td><td><p>3,634,320</p></td><td><p>0.003%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021 (01/01/2021 – 31/10/2021) *</p></td><td><p>312</p></td><td><p>5,260,013</p></td><td><p>0.006%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>*Confirmed losses for the whole of 2021 will be available from September 2022.</p><p>The data held for deliveries overseas are not broken down between those items reported as ‘lost’, and those that declared as ‘stolen’.</p><p>The table below shows the number of passports and supporting documents that have been confirmed as lost in the possession of a provider of secure delivery services overseas for each year from 2019:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Loss and Theft</p></td><td><p>Volume of consignments</p></td><td><p>Percentage of loss and theft</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>103</p></td><td><p>1,007,981</p></td><td><p>0.01%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020</p></td><td><p>85</p></td><td><p>1,198,954</p></td><td><p>0.007%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021</p></td><td><p>157</p></td><td><p>856,742</p></td><td><p>0.019%</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 25/07/2022 09:44:19 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse