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1235998

registered interest
date	22/09/2020
answering body	House of Commons Commission
answering dept id	18
answering dept short name	House of Commons Commission
answering dept sort name	House of Commons Commission
hansard heading	House of Commons: Shops
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, when is it proposed to reintroduce cash payment at outlets in the House of Commons.
tabling member constituency	Warley
tabling member printed	John Spellar
uin	92625
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>The reintroduction of cash payments in catering outlets will be reviewed by the Catering Service Management team in accordance with any changes to industry guidance provided by the Government. The current guidance encourages contactless payments, where possible, which the House is adopting as part of its measures to manage the risk of COVID transmission on the Parliamentary Estate.</p> answering member constituency Perth and North Perthshire answering member printed Pete Wishart question first answered 24/09/2020 17:19:17 answering member 1440 label Biography information for Pete Wishart
tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1236106

registered interest
date	21/09/2020
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Integrated Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy Review: Females
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that he Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy includes (a) women, peace and security and (b) women and girls’ rights in (i) conflict and (ii) peacebuilding as key priorities for his Department.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	92867
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda is an important component of the UK's work to promote human rights and support sustainable peace processes. In 2020 we celebrate the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. This Government will mark the anniversary by calling for renewed commitment by the international community to implement all of the WPS UN Security Council resolutions. Our priorities for the anniversary are to promote women's meaningful inclusion in peace processes and increase support and protection for women resolving conflict, countering violent extremism and building peace at the grassroots level. The cross-government National Action Plan on WPS 2018-2022 outlines our WPS strategy. We continue to prioritise preventive diplomacy and mediation through the UN and push for greater collaboration on peacebuilding amongst international organisations. The evidence is also clear that women's meaningful participation in conflict prevention through to conflict resolution is key to securing sustainable peace. We also continue to drive more concerted, coordinated and scaled-up global action across the international system to prevent gender-based violence in conflict settings.</p><p>The Integrated Review and the creation of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) are evidence of the Prime Minister's commitment to a unified British foreign policy that will maximise our influence around the world, ensuring the UK is a force for good in the world. When the Prime Minister launched the Integrated Review, he was clear that it will set out the way in which the UK will be a problem-solving and burden-sharing nation. Our aim continues to be for an ambitious and bold Integrated Review that is guided by the UK's foreign policy, national security and development objectives. Gender equality and women's rights will remain a core part of the Government's mission and it is at the heart of the new FCDO.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 24/09/2020 12:11:04 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1236077

registered interest
date	21/09/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: Evictions and Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the decision to resume cessations of support and evictions of unsuccessful asylum seekers, what (a) public health and (b) other criteria will be used to inform decisions on whether to evict and cease support for individual unsuccessful asylum claimants.
tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
tabling member printed	Stuart C McDonald
uin	92790
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>The Home Office has started cessations of support in a phased way which will reduce demand on the asylum system while prioritising the safety of those within the asylum system. This means moving people out of Home Office accommodation and ending subsistence payments from the Home Office.</p><p>For those whose asylum claims have been rejected and appeal rights exhausted, they will be expected to leave the country, assistance is available to those who opt to leave voluntarily. The Voluntary Returns Scheme will pay for travel and provide a cash amount, and this can and should be utilised whenever possible.</p><p>People who are awaiting a Covid test result should not be asked to leave their current dwelling until they receive a negative test result and are symptom free and that those self-isolating due to a positive test result should adhere to the full 14-day self-isolation period for close contacts.</p><p>These factors, applied to an individual case, might mean that a failed asylum seeker continues to be eligible to receive support because they are unable to leave the UK or take the necessary practical steps to enable them to leave (for example by attending an interview for the purposes of obtaining a necessary travel document).</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 24/09/2020 16:14:32 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald

1235777

registered interest
date	18/09/2020
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, whether she plans to increase the asylum support rates, beyond the increase made in June 2020.
tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
tabling member printed	Stuart C McDonald
uin	91769
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>The standard allowance given to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute was raised to £39.60 per week from £37.75 per week with effect from 15 June, an increase of around 5%. This increase was significantly higher than the general rate of inflation, which Office for National Statistics data shows was only 0.5% in the 12 months period to May.</p><p> </p><p>Further work is being done, as it is every year, to ensure the rate is enough to meet the essential living needs of asylum seekers (the legal test) and we will announce the outcome in due course.</p><p> </p><p>The taxpayer also provides free accommodation, with utilities and council tax paid for and there is free access to the NHS and free access to education for their children.</p><p> </p><p>The UK has a generous record in supporting asylum seekers. Last year, we made around 20,000 grants of asylum or protection (one of the higher figures in Europe), as well as offered protection to 3,000 Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children – the highest number of any country in Europe. In addition, we have directly resettled around 20,000 people from the most dangerous areas of the world (especially Syrians) in the UK over the last 5 years. Finally, we spend around £14 billion per year in Overseas Aid, helping millions of people around the world. This is the highest amount of any country in Europe and we are the only G7 country to meet the 0.7% of GNI Overseas Aid target.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 24/09/2020 17:36:43 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald

1236073

registered interest
date	21/09/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: Evictions and Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she had discussions with (a) Public Health England, (b) Public Health Scotland, (c) Public Health Wales and (d) local public health officials, prior to the decision to resume cessations of support and evictions of unsuccessful asylum seekers.
tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
tabling member printed	Stuart C McDonald
uin	92788
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>Since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Home Office paused ending support for people who had been granted asylum, or whose claim had been refused. This was to ensure that people were not made homeless and able to follow social distancing.</p><p>We said from the outset that this was a temporary measure which would be brought to an end as soon as it was safe to do so.</p><p>The Home Office has started cessations of support in a phased way which will reduce demand on the asylum system while prioritising the safety of those within the asylum system. This means moving people out of Home Office accommodation and ending subsistence payments from the Home Office.</p><p>We have been working closely with National and Local health Colleagues throughout the pandemic to inform our approach and will continue to do so.</p><p>We remain committed to working closely with the accommodation providers and communicating with local authorities to relieve pressure and capacity as much as possible and ensure that health guidance is being followed.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp grouped question UIN 92787 question first answered 24/09/2020 16:17:31 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald

1236295

registered interest
date	21/09/2020
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, whether asylum applicants are required to claim asylum in the first safe country they reach.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	92768
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">We believe that those who reach safe countries should stay and claim asylum without delay, rather than make further, unnecessary and often dangerous journeys in order to claim asylum in a country of their own choosing.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">Illegal migration from safe countries undermines our efforts to help those most in need - controlled resettlement via safe and legal routes is the best way to protect such people and disrupt the organised crime groups that exploit migrants and refugees.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">To support these principles, the UK, the EU and other countries in the world employ legal procedures to return people to the safe countries through which they have passed. In the case of the UK, the majority of such returns presently take place under the Dublin Regulation, but from 1 January, such returns will take place according to our domestic rules.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">Where the UK considers the claim of someone who has failed to take advantage of a reasonable opportunity to make an asylum claim or human rights claim while in a safe country, the law requires that behaviour to be taken into account as damaging to the claimant’s credibility.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We believe that those who reach safe countries should stay and claim asylum without delay, rather than make further, unnecessary and often dangerous journeys in order to claim asylum in a country of their own choosing.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Illegal migration from safe countries undermines our efforts to help those most in need - controlled resettlement direct from conflict zones via safe and legal routes is the best way to protect such people and disrupt the organised crime groups that exploit migrants and refugees.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">To support these principles, the UK, the EU and other countries in the world employ legal procedures to return people to the safe countries through which they have passed. In the case of the UK, the majority of such returns presently take place under the Dublin Regulation, but from 1 January, such returns will take place according to our domestic rules.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Where the UK considers the claim of someone who has failed to take advantage of a reasonable opportunity to make an asylum claim or human rights claim while in a safe country, the law requires that behaviour to be taken into account as damaging to the claimant’s credibility.</ins></p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 24/09/2020 16:09:45 question first ministerially corrected 24/09/2020 20:08:58 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp previous answer version 49772 answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1233011

registered interest
date	09/09/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Members: Correspondence
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to reply to the letter of 20 August 2020 and follow-up correspondence from the Leader of Hull City Council on the housing of asylum seekers in the Royal Station Hotel in Kingston-upon-Hull.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle
tabling member printed	Emma Hardy
uin	87623
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>We wrote to the leader of Hull City Council on 26 August to thank them for writing and acknowledge receipt. A more comprehensive response has been complied and will be sent shortly</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 24/09/2020 17:08:25 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4645 label Biography information for Emma Hardy

1236123

registered interest
date	21/09/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure people seeking asylum are protected from covid-19 in the even that they are evicted from accommodation provided by her Department.
tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
uin	92701
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>We are committed to preventing the further spread of Covid-19. Cessations are taking place in a phased way and we will keep them under review to ensure that this does not place people at greater risk.</p><p>We will work closely with accommodation providers to make sure people are moved on safely and in line with public health guidance. We will consider local lockdowns and other factors as part of this process.</p><p>People who are awaiting a Covid test result should not be asked to leave their current dwelling until they receive a negative test result and are symptom free and that those self-isolating due to a positive test result should adhere to the full 14-day self-isolation period for close contacts.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 24/09/2020 16:15:58 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

1234634

registered interest
date	15/09/2020
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 estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the time taken for decisions to be made on asylum seekers applications before being eligible to find employment.
tabling member constituency	Bermondsey and Old Southwark
tabling member printed	Neil Coyle
uin	90143
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>The Home Office has not made an estimate of this cost.</p><p>Asylum seekers can work in the UK if their claim has been outstanding for 12 months, through no fault of their own. Those allowed to work are restricted to jobs on the Shortage Occupation List, which is published by the Home Office and based on expert advice from the Migration Advisory Committee.</p><p>It is important to distinguish between those who need protection and those seeking to work here, who can apply for a work visa under the Immigration Rules. Our wider policy could be undermined if migrants bypassed work visa Rules by lodging unfounded asylum claims here.</p><p>As part of the plans to speed up Asylum decision making, over the last 18 months, UK Visas and Immigration have increased the number of Asylum decision makers and support staff as part of a rolling recruitment campaign and mobilised a transformation programme that seeks to simplify, streamline and digitise processes.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 24/09/2020 17:13:52 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4368 label Biography information for Neil Coyle

1236075

registered interest
date	21/09/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: Evictions and Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she had with local authorities in asylum dispersal areas prior to the decision to resume cessations of support and evictions of unsuccessful asylum seekers; and in which dispersal areas the first cessations of support will take place.
tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
tabling member printed	Stuart C McDonald
uin	92789
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>We are resuming negative asylum support cessations in England, and soon after in the rest of the United Kingdom following discussion with officials in the Devolved Administrations.</p><p>Local authorities have been consulted about cessations and we continue to work closely with councils to plan for these changes. Data has been shared with authorities as part of move-on planning and communication channels are open throughout the move-on period.</p><p>We remain committed to working closely with local authorities to relieve pressure and capacity as much as possible, however it is only right that recently granted refugees move into local authority care to assist with their integration. It is also right that those no longer entitled to asylum support leave the United Kingdom.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 24/09/2020 16:12:56 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald