To ask Her Majesty's Government whether meals provided for asylum seekers in temporary
accommodation must meet the guidelines set out in the NHS Eatwell Guide.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, during the COVID-19 pandemic, they will suspend
the return of refugees arriving on UK territory to northern France.
<p>The UK does not return those refugees who have been granted refugee status in the
UK to France or elsewhere. We do, however, return asylum seekers who are yet to have
a decision on their asylum claim in the UK to ensure their claim is considered in
the right place. This may be to France or other states who participate in the Dublin
Regulation.</p><p>During the Covid-19 pandemic, we continue to comply with the Dublin
Regulation and remain committed to ensuring transfers continue to and from the UK.
This is a fast-changing situation and we, along with other countries across Europe,
will be subject to wider Government decisions and travel restrictions.</p>
To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they are taking, during the COVID-19
pandemic, to ensure that refugees at the UK-France border belonging to at-risk groups, including
(1) victims of trafficking, (2) unaccompanied minors, (3) LGBTQ+ persons, (4) people
with disabilities, and (5) victims of physical, mental or sexual abuse, can access
the necessary protections.
<p>The identification and relocation of vulnerable migrants on French territory remains
the domestic responsibility of the French government, who are currently working to
transfer those residing in camps into reception centres. At these centres, asylum
claims can be lodged and any other welfare needs assessed. Since the start of the
Covid-19 lockdown in France, over 600 migrants have been moved to accommodation centres
to aid with social distancing measures. Within these centres, individuals are provided
with medical and administrative support.</p><p>The UK is also committed to meeting
our obligations to transfer unaccompanied children to the UK where they have eligible
family here and where transfer is in their best interests under the Dublin Regulation.
An unaccompanied child must first claim asylum in the EU Member State in which they
are present, and the Member State must then raise a Take Charge Request with the UK
Government.</p><p>Additionally, specialist trained officers are present at all of
our Juxtaposed controls, who assist in supporting those identified as vulnerable.
We work closely with both French and Belgian partners to ensure that these individuals
receive the support they need. All officers receive regular training on safeguarding
and when to seek support from a specialist trained officer. Special arrangements are
in place at the Juxtaposed controls to refer cases with vulnerability elements to
the French and Belgian Police.</p>
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Sugg on 6 February
(HL Deb, col 1885), how many claims for asylum have been made by (1) women and girls
at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM), and (2) anti-FGM campaigners, in each
of the last 10 years; and how many such claims (a) have been accepted, (b) have been
rejected, and (c) are awaiting a decision.
<p>The Home Office does not record the basis of claims in a way that can be easily
aggregated so cannot provide figures on how many asylum claims have been made by (1)
women and girls at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM), and (2) anti-FGM campaigners,
in each of the last 10 years; and how many such claims (a) have been accepted, (b)
have been rejected, and (c) are awaiting a decision.</p><p>However, the Home Office
does publish data on the number of cases concluded by gender. This data can be found
at Asy_05/06/06q/07, of the published Transparency data: August 2019: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-transparency-data-august-2019"
target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-transparency-data-august-2019</a></p>