The UK sets its visa regimes in light of immigration, crime and security risks, amongst other factors, and keeps these regimes under regular review. These risks and other factors vary between countries who set visa regimes, so it is quite natural that the United States and the UK will have different visa requirements for the same set of foreign nationals. The UK has no \u2018visa waiver agreement\u2019 with Israel.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-12-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-12-16T15:29:08.4Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-12-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Entry Clearances: Israel"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government why the United Kingdom has a visa waiver agreement with Israel when the United States does not.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1732", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Warner"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Warner"} ], "uin" : "HL3641"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169356", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169356/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Home Office does not routinely comment on individual cases. This is because the Home Office has obligations in law to protect this information. The UK does not require Israeli citizens to hold a visa to visit the UK. Nevertheless, the Home Secretary can, in individual cases, decide whether a person should be excluded from the UK regardless of whether they require a visa to come to the UK or not. The UK sets its visa regimes in light of immigration, crime and security risks, amongst other factors, and keeps these regimes under regular review. The UK has no \u2018visa waiver agreement\u2019 with Israel.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-12-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-12-16T15:27:39.383Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-12-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Entry Clearances: Israel"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government, in the light of the admission into the United Kingdom to speak publicly of Professor Mordechai Kedar of Bar-Ilan University in Israel, and his reported remarks that the sisters and mothers of terrorists should be raped as a deterrent, whether they intend to reconsider the retention of the visa waiver agreement with Israel.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1732", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Warner"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Warner"} ], "uin" : "HL3642"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169357", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169357/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
In the same way as any other person admitted or granted entry to the UK, an Israeli citizen is expected to comply with the conditions of their stay in the UK and to abide by UK laws. Furthermore, watch list checks at the UK border identify persons who present a potential threat to the UK. The UK has no \u2018visa waiver agreement\u2019 with Israel.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-12-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-12-16T15:26:39.343Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-12-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Entry Clearances: Israel"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government whether the visa waiver agreement with Israel permits individuals undertaking, permitting or financing illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories to travel freely between Israel and the United Kingdom.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1732", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Warner"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Warner"} ], "uin" : "HL3643"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169359", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169359/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
All visa applications are considered under the Immigration Rules. As the Immigration Rules do not state that there needs to be a demand for specific graduates in the students\u2019 home country, the degree subject is not a consideration for the Entry Clearance Officer.<\/p>
Any student application refused under PBS Tier 4 of the Immigration Rules can be subject to an Administrative Review (AR). The AR is conducted by an official at a more senior grade than the original decision maker.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-12-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-12-18T15:11:27.63Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-12-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Visas: Nepal"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government, further to Written Answer by Lord Bates on 8 December (HL3326), whether the staff who actually carry out the application reviews for entry clearance applications made in Nepal are aware of that policy, and whether checks are carried out to ensure that is so.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2568", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ashcroft"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Ashcroft"} ], "uin" : "HL3645"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169487", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169487/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Home Office does not hold data centrally on the number of incidents of food theft. Police recorded crime data held by the Home Office records numbers of thefts, but does not separately identify those involving food.
At a national level, the National Retail Crime Steering Group, chaired by the Minister for Crime Prevention, brings together representatives from Government, law enforcement and retail organisations, both large and small. The Steering
Group is intended to identify retail crime issues of national concern and provide a forum for information sharing and agreeing action.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1531", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Featherstone"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hornsey and Wood Green"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lynne Featherstone"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-12-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "218207"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169487/answer/previousversion/33434", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1531", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Featherstone"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hornsey and Wood Green"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lynne Featherstone"} } , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-12-15T16:49:43.793Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-12-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Food: Theft"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has received on changes in the level of theft of food from shops; and what discussions she has had with stakeholders on this issue.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4264", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Stephen Doughty"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cardiff South and Penarth"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Stephen Doughty"} ], "uin" : "218104"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169491", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169491/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Home Office does not hold data centrally on the number of incidents of food theft. Police recorded crime data held by the Home Office records numbers of thefts, but does not separately identify those involving food.
At a national level, the National Retail Crime Steering Group, chaired by the Minister for Crime Prevention, brings together representatives from Government, law enforcement and retail organisations, both large and small. The Steering
Group is intended to identify retail crime issues of national concern and provide a forum for information sharing and agreeing action.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1531", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Featherstone"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hornsey and Wood Green"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lynne Featherstone"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-12-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "218104"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169491/answer/previousversion/33439", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1531", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Featherstone"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hornsey and Wood Green"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lynne Featherstone"} } , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-12-15T16:49:43.883Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-12-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Food: Theft"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the change in the rate of food theft since 2010.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4264", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Stephen Doughty"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cardiff South and Penarth"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Stephen Doughty"} ], "uin" : "218207"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169547", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169547/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Her Majesty's Passport Office (HMPO) is recruiting over 1,100 FTE staff to frontline posts. Over 620 staff are already in post or appointed and the remaining staff will be recruited by around the end of the current financial year.
The majority of staff are being recruited on two year fixed contracts with an option to convert to permanent positions at the end of that period. Just over 250 staff are employed on fixed term contracts of between three and eleven
months and around a further 30 will be recruited on the same terms. In addition, HMPO will be making use of around 170 temporary staff, either on a seasonal basis or by insourcing from existing suppliers. Recruitment agencies
have been engaged in the recruitment programme. The recruitment levels are based on forecast demand for 2015 and 2016 and take into account existing staff exiting the organisation or moving on promotion to other than frontline posts.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1530", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for James Brokenshire"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Old Bexley and Sidcup"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "James Brokenshire"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-01-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "218151"} , {"_value" : "218152"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-01-21T14:16:57.373Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-12-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "HM Passport Office"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what forecast she has made of the number of staff that will be recruited to the Passport Office (a) on permanent contracts, (b) on fixed-term contracts and (c) through agency recruitment between August 2014 and August 2015.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/533", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Hanson"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Delyn"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr David Hanson"} ], "uin" : "218153"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169548", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/169548/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "