I am grateful for the opportunity to put the record straight, having reviewed the Official Report with Baroness Lister. Fee waivers are available for immigration applications based on particular specified human rights reasons in which to require a fee before an application for leave to remain is considered would be a breach of that individual\u2019s human rights. Fee waivers are not available for citizenship applications, and therefore they are not available for children seeking registration as British citizens.<\/p>
I fully acknowledge that the answer I gave on 23 October did not provide the complete picture and once again am grateful to be able to remove the ambiguity my oral answer will have created. I will be writing to those who took part in the oral question to repeat the clarification in this answer.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4289", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Manzoor"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Manzoor"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-20T17:55:28.03Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "British Nationality: Children"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Manzoor on 23 October (HL Deb, cols 763\u20135), whether they will clarify for which citizenship applications child fee waivers will apply.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4234", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Lister of Burtersett"} ], "uin" : "HL11385"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005621", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Northern Ireland Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005621/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Investigation of allegations of electoral fraud in Northern Ireland are a matter for the PSNI. The Chief Electoral Officer has informed me that she understands that three of the cases reported of possible abuse in relation to the 2017 General Election have resulted in referral to the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4686", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Duncan of Springbank"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-20T16:12:29.523Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "21"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Election Offences: Northern Ireland"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the letter from the Chief Electoral Office for Northern Ireland to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland dated 21 December 2017, what discussions they have had with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PNSI) about the (1) eleven cases of potential electoral fraud it had identified from the 2017 General Election, and (2) progress made on the four cases it was proceeding with; and whether they have received any further information from the Chief Electoral Office for Northern Ireland or the PSNI about any other cases which may have come to light since.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/648", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Maginnis of Drumglass"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Maginnis of Drumglass"} ], "uin" : "HL11392"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005622", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Northern Ireland Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005622/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Proxy and postal voting is a permitted part of elections. Any allegations of electoral fraud are referred to the PSNI, and the Chief Electoral Officer has made clear that she is content that applications are processed and approved in accordance with the law. The Chief Electoral Officer has also made it clear that she has seen no evidence of systematic electoral abuse.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government continues to consult with key stakeholders and keeps electoral legislation under review. We are committed to tackling possible abuse through a number of measures including piloting voter ID in Great Britain, supporting the Private Member\u2019s Postal Voting Bill and consulting on the recommendations of the Committee of Standards in Public Life relating to intimidation of Parliamentary candidates and other public office-holders.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4686", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Duncan of Springbank"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "HL11394"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-20T16:13:07.377Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "21"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Absent Voting: Northern Ireland"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to Written Answers by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 3 July 2017, 15 September 2017, and 2 October 2017 (HL3, HL1448, and HL1671) and the Written Answer by Lord Duncan of Springbank on 21 Dec 2017 (HL3975), what assessment they have made of the case for (1) increased safeguards against organised abuse of the electoral system in Northern Ireland to take account of the 2017 figure for proxy vote applications being 555 per cent of that in 2010, and (2) a further review of absent voting procedures by the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/648", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Maginnis of Drumglass"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Maginnis of Drumglass"} ], "uin" : "HL11393"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005623", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Northern Ireland Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005623/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Proxy and postal voting is a permitted part of elections. Any allegations of electoral fraud are referred to the PSNI, and the Chief Electoral Officer has made clear that she is content that applications are processed and approved in accordance with the law. The Chief Electoral Officer has also made it clear that she has seen no evidence of systematic electoral abuse.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government continues to consult with key stakeholders and keeps electoral legislation under review. We are committed to tackling possible abuse through a number of measures including piloting voter ID in Great Britain, supporting the Private Member\u2019s Postal Voting Bill and consulting on the recommendations of the Committee of Standards in Public Life relating to intimidation of Parliamentary candidates and other public office-holders.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4686", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Duncan of Springbank"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "HL11393"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-20T16:13:07.44Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "21"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Election Offences"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to Written Answers by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 3 July 2017, 15 September 2017, and 2 October 2017 (HL3, HL1448, and HL1671) and the Written Answer by Lord Duncan of Springbank on 21 Dec 2017 (HL3975), what assessment they have made of the risk of abuse of the electoral system in future elections in (1) Northern Ireland, and (2) elsewhere in the UK; and what steps they are taking to mitigate that risk.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/648", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Maginnis of Drumglass"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Maginnis of Drumglass"} ], "uin" : "HL11394"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005664", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005664/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government has consistently highlighted that quitting smoking and nicotine use is the best way to improve health. E-cigarettes are not risk free. However, the evidence is increasingly clear that vaping is significantly less harmful to health than smoking tobacco and can be particularly useful in supporting smokers to quit, especially when combined with stop smoking services.<\/p>
<\/p>
In the Tobacco Control Plan for England, published in July 2017, the Government committed Public Health England (PHE) to annually updating their evidence report on e-cigarettes and other novel nicotine delivery systems until the end of Parliament in 2022. PHE\u2019s latest report was published on the 6 February 2018 and is available at the following link:<\/p>
<\/p>
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/684963/Evidence_review_of_e-cigarettes_and_heated_tobacco_products_2018.pdf<\/a><\/p> <\/p> PHE\u2019s most recent evidence review argues that e-cigarette use, alone or in combination with licensed medication and behavioural support from a stop smoking service, appears to be helpful in the short term, and that e-cigarettes have contributed to tens of thousands of additional quitters in England.<\/p> <\/p> The PHE evidence review concluded that \u201cto date there have been no identified health risks of passive vaping to by-standers\u201d. PHE have produced guidance for organisations on developing appropriate vaping policies for public places and workplaces, which should be evidence based and support smokers to quit whilst managing any identified risks.<\/p> <\/p> The Government is committed to reducing public health harms caused by smoking. PHE retain responsibility for the provision of information regarding vaping, e-cigarettes and other nicotine delivery systems to protect public health; and have committed to include messages about the relative safety of e-cigarettes within quit smoking campaigns such as the annual Stoptober campaign.<\/p> <\/p> PHE continue to provide advice on quitting smoking, highlighting the potential role of e-cigarettes in doing so. PHE\u2019s latest Health Matters blog, Stop Smoking: What works? Provides advice to smokers on different quitting options, including e-cigarettes as well as nicotine replacement therapy and prescription medicines. This is available at the following link:<\/p> <\/p> https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/category/health-matters/<\/a><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4067", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Steve Brine"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Winchester"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Steve Brine"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "190459"}
, {"_value" : "190460"}
, {"_value" : "190462"}
, {"_value" : "190463"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-20T15:19:05.917Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Electronic Cigarettes"}
, "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 he has made of the potential effectiveness of encouraging people who smoke to switch to vaping to help them stop smoking.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"}
], "uin" : "190458"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005674", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005674/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Nicotine shots are regulated under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulation 2016 as they are a nicotine containing product. As shortfills do not contain nicotine when sold they are not regulated under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 (TRPR), but are covered by General Product Safety Regulations.<\/p> <\/p> The Government is committed to conduct a review of the TRPR at a later date.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4067", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Steve Brine"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Winchester"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Steve Brine"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "190469"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-20T15:23:24.91Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Electronic Cigarettes: Regulation"}
, "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, whether (a) nicotine shots and (b) shortfills are regulated under (i) UK and (ii) EU law.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"}
], "uin" : "190468"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005675", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005675/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Nicotine shots are regulated under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulation 2016 as they are a nicotine containing product. As shortfills do not contain nicotine when sold they are not regulated under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 (TRPR), but are covered by General Product Safety Regulations.<\/p> <\/p> The Government is committed to conduct a review of the TRPR at a later date.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4067", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Steve Brine"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Winchester"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Steve Brine"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "190468"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-20T15:23:24.957Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Electronic Cigarettes"}
, "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, if he will make an assessment of the (a) effectiveness of the regulation of non-nicotine liquid for vape products and (b) effect on public health of (i) shortfills and (ii) nicotine shots.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"}
], "uin" : "190469"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005676", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005676/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " No evidence has been collated by the Department as snus is banned under the European Union\u2019s Tobacco Products Directive as an oral tobacco product. The Commission has however set out the evidence underpinning the ban. The impact assessment for the 2014 Directive can be found at the following link:<\/p> <\/p> https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/tobacco/docs/com_2012_788_ia_en.pdf<\/a><\/p> <\/p> The Government committed in the Tobacco Control Plan for England to review where the United Kingdom\u2019s exit from the EU offers us opportunities to re-appraise current regulation to ensure this continues to protect the nation\u2019s health. We will look to identify where we can sensibly deregulate without harming public health or where current EU regulations limit our ability to deal with tobacco. The Government\u2019s goal will remain to achieve a proportionate approach to managing risk, one which protects the young and non-smokers, whilst giving smokers access to products which will reduce harm.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4067", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Steve Brine"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Winchester"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Steve Brine"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "190471"}
, {"_value" : "190472"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-20T15:22:24.613Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Tobacco"}
, "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 evidence his Department has collated on effect on people's health of the use of (a) Snus and (b) tobacco.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"}
], "uin" : "190470"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005677", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005677/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " No evidence has been collated by the Department as snus is banned under the European Union\u2019s Tobacco Products Directive as an oral tobacco product. The Commission has however set out the evidence underpinning the ban. The impact assessment for the 2014 Directive can be found at the following link:<\/p> <\/p>