Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following their press release on 1 May stating that detention capacity had been increased to more than 2,200 spaces for those being removed to Rwanda, how many additional detention spaces have been created for this purpose and where they are located.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Home Office currently operates seven immigration removal centres (IRCs) throughout the UK
As of 24 April the Home Office has the capacity to detain around 2,200 people in IRCs, including those liable for removal to Rwanda.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Sharpe of Epsom on 14 May (HL Deb cols 565–70), whether they will now answer the question as to whether the family test was applied to the changes in the Immigration Rules.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
During the Motion of Regret Speech on 14 May 2024, in answer to Baroness Lister’s question, I set out the evidence and advice that was taken in to account before making the decision to increase the Minimum Income Requirement (MIR).
We did not seek further advice from the Migration Advisory Committee, but we did consider its previous advice and evidence regarding net fiscal contributions and access to benefits.
We also took into account reports about the impact of the MIR on families by the Migration Observatory, the Journal of Economics, Race and Policy and the Justice and Home Affairs Committee.
For the avoidance of doubt, this means the Family Test was not applied when making the decision to increase the MIR. There is no legal obligation for the test to be applied.
A full regulatory assessment and equalities impact assessment on the changes to the Immigration Rules laid on 14 March will be published in due course.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people who arrived in the UK by small boats in 2023 are (a) male and (b) female.
Answered by Michael Tomlinson - Minister of State (Minister for Illegal Migration)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what visa schemes are available to Palestinians seeking to reunite with family in the UK.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.