UKVI has faced extremely high pressures over the past two years. All visa routes have seen extremely high demand following the end of the pandemic and the easing of travel restrictions.<\/p>
UKVI is working hard to reduce processing times and is now back within service standard across a number of our visa routes. UKVI is working hard to speed up decision making by rolling out more efficient technology, including digital interviewing, moving away from a paper-based system, and recruiting more decision-making staff. UKVI have updated guidance on expected waiting times so that customers have a realistic indication of how long their applications will take to be processed. We encourage customers to continue to refer to these updates as our processing times change on a regular basis. The link to this guidance for in country applications is: Visa decision waiting times: applications inside the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)<\/a> and out of country applications is: Visa decision waiting times: applications outside the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)<\/a>.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4320", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Robert Jenrick"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newark"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Robert Jenrick"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-11-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "94824"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-11-30T14:54:00.507Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-11-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Immigration: Applications"}
, "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 steps she is taking to reduce waiting times for immigration decisions.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4511", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ealing Central and Acton"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Rupa Huq"}
], "uin" : "94823"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1544975", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1544975/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " UKVI has faced extremely high pressures over the past two years. All visa routes have seen extremely high demand following the end of the pandemic and the easing of travel restrictions.<\/p> UKVI is working hard to reduce processing times and is now back within service standard across a number of our visa routes. UKVI is working hard to speed up decision making by rolling out more efficient technology, including digital interviewing, moving away from a paper-based system, and recruiting more decision-making staff. UKVI have updated guidance on expected waiting times so that customers have a realistic indication of how long their applications will take to be processed. We encourage customers to continue to refer to these updates as our processing times change on a regular basis. The link to this guidance for in country applications is: Visa decision waiting times: applications inside the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)<\/a> and out of country applications is: Visa decision waiting times: applications outside the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)<\/a>.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4320", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Robert Jenrick"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newark"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Robert Jenrick"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-11-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "94823"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-11-30T14:54:00.553Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-11-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Immigration: Applications"}
, "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 assessment she has made of the (a) financial and (b) personal impacts of delayed immigration decisions on people awaiting a decision.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4511", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ealing Central and Acton"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Rupa Huq"}
], "uin" : "94824"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1541350", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1541350/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Applications for Ukraine Schemes are processed as quickly as possible whilst ensuring that the appropriate checks and safeguarding measures are in place. Staff from other departments were brought in to assist and many remain in place to maintain caseworking capacity.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4320", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Robert Jenrick"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newark"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Robert Jenrick"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-11-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-11-16T17:43:14.757Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-11-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Refugees: Ukraine"}
, "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 steps he is taking to speed up the average processing time for applications to the (a) the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme and (b) the Ukraine Family Scheme.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4511", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ealing Central and Acton"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Rupa Huq"}
], "uin" : "83691"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1540102", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1540102/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The processing centre at Manston provides suitable welfare provisions including hot food, fresh clothing, toilet facilities, sanitary packs and medical care. It provides for all the basic needs of people who will have arrived tired, cold, in wet clothing and who may not have eaten during their journey.<\/p> As the situation and needs at Manston have changed, the Home Office and its contractors have continued to innovate to meet those changing needs. Additional marquees have been erected, additional medical personnel have been contracted and improvements have been made to the catering provided. We will continue to innovate to provide for the basic needs of those in our care and to ensure the safety of everyone at Manston as a priority.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4320", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Robert Jenrick"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newark"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Robert Jenrick"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-11-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-11-15T17:32:00.997Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-11-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Short-term Holding Facilities"}
, "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 recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of asylum processing centres.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4511", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ealing Central and Acton"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Rupa Huq"}
], "uin" : "80814"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506923", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506923/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " In 2022/23, £45 million funding has been allocated to support the continuation of the national mental health and wellbeing support offer, which includes the 40 mental health and wellbeing hubs for health and social care staff in England. These hubs provide proactive outreach and clinical assessment and enable rapid access to evidence based mental health services and support.<\/p> The Professional Nurse Advocacy programme is delivering staff training and restorative supervision in England and the NHS Practitioner Health service provides a national support service for staff with more complex needs, such as trauma or addictions. The national health and wellbeing offer also includes a role for Wellbeing Guardians at board level. We are strengthening the role for occupational health services to a more integrated, preventative partner in supporting health and wellbeing.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4320", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Robert Jenrick"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newark"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Robert Jenrick"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-09-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-09-27T10:42:22.203Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "NHS: Staff"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing investment for mental health support for NHS staff.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4511", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ealing Central and Acton"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Rupa Huq"}
], "uin" : "51868"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506924", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506924/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " In 2015, the Government introduced measures to reduce National Health Service spending on agency staff, including price caps, procurement frameworks and expenditure ceilings. These have contributed to a decrease in expenditure from £3.6 billion in 2015/16 to £2.4 billion in 2020/21. Removing such caps is therefore likely to increase the cost of temporary staffing and is not supported.<\/p> We are urging a reduction in the use of agency staff and prioritising the use of in-house staff banks, as this ensures value for money for the healthcare system. However, this includes a provision to allow trusts to override rules on agency staffing on exceptional patient safety grounds. Trust boards have primary responsibility for monitoring the local impact of the agency rules and ensuring patient safety.<\/p> While no specific assessment of ringfencing a new budget for NHS locum staff has been made, up to £120,000 per integrated care system or sustainability and transformation partnership has been made available in general practice for flexible pools to aid the process of recruiting and deploying general practitioners (GPs). GPs supported through the pool arrangement could have access to the flexibility of a locuming role, with the additional benefits of a salaried position. Locum caps on pay rates, used in secondary care, do not extend to primary care.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4320", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Robert Jenrick"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newark"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Robert Jenrick"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-10-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-10-06T14:31:01.577Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "NHS: Locums"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of (a) removing locum caps and (b) ringfencing a new budget for NHS locum staff.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4511", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ealing Central and Acton"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Rupa Huq"}
], "uin" : "51869"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506926", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506926/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " There is no cap on doctors\u2019 pensions. Pension saving is tax free up to the annual and lifetime allowances. \u2018Our plan for patients\u2019 announced flexibilities for doctor's pensions to encourage retention within the profession.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4320", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Robert Jenrick"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newark"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Robert Jenrick"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-09-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-09-28T11:09:46.223Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Doctors: Pensions"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of abolishing the cap on NHS doctors\u2019 pensions.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4511", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ealing Central and Acton"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Rupa Huq"}
], "uin" : "51871"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506927", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506927/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Through the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, the Government will provide a discount on wholesale gas and electricity prices for all non-domestic customers, including public sector organisations in the National Health Service. This will be equivalent to the Energy Price Guarantee in place for households.<\/p> NHS England have released a further £1.5 billion to NHS integrated care systems to manage the rising costs of energy and inflation. Local integrated care boards will determine how this funding will be used in hospitals and community services.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4320", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Robert Jenrick"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newark"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Robert Jenrick"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-10-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-10-10T14:43:04.74Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Health Services: Energy"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to ensure that the rising cost of energy bills do not negatively impact (a) patient safety and (b) services in NHS (i) hospitals and (ii) community services.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4511", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ealing Central and Acton"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Rupa Huq"}
], "uin" : "51872"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1491169", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1491169/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The decision not to procure Evusheld at this time for prevention through emergency routes is based on independent clinical advice by the multi-agency RAPID C-19 and a national expert policy working group. The decision is based on a range of evidence, including clinical trial data, in vitro analysis and emerging observational studies. RAPID C-19 monitors activity in clinical trials for emerging evidence and where treatments are proven to be clinically effective, enables access for National Health Service patients. The Chief Medical Officer for England is content that the correct process for providing clinical advice has been followed and it should now be referred to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for further evaluation. The Antivirals and Therapeutics Taskforce has published this analysis of evidence, which is available at the following link:<\/p>