Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of specialised visa renewals for touring groups to streamline the (a) time and (b) cost of visa applications for working musicians.

Answered by Kevin Foster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Overseas musicians and performers make an important contribution to the UK's creative sector and are very welcome in the United Kingdom. We therefore offer a range of immigration routes for creative workers.

Visiting artists, entertainers and musicians can come to the UK and perform at events, take part in competitions and auditions, make personal appearances and take part in promotional activities for up to six months without the need for formal sponsorship or a work visa if they are not receiving payment beyond expenses or prize money.

Those from non-visa national countries can come to perform in the UK and be paid without the need to obtain a visa in advance for up to one month under the Permitted Paid Engagement route, up to three months if they have been assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship by a licenced sponsor or for up to six months if performing at a Permit Free Festival. With no requirement to obtain a visa prior to travel, these options provide a flexible system which enables performance slots to be filled at short notice and reduces the administrative burden for performers.

For longer-term work, the Temporary Work – Creative Worker visa allows creative workers to come to the UK to undertake paid engagements for up to twelve months, which can be extended for a further twelve months in certain cases. We also offer priority and super priority services for those who wish to receive a quicker decision on their visa application (https://www.gov.uk/faster-decision-visa-settlement).

Fees are kept under review and are set taking account of the charging powers provided by Section 68(9) of the Immigration Act 2014, which include the ability to set fees based on: the cost of processing the application, the benefits and entitlements provided by a successful application and the wider cost of the Migration and Borders system. Full details of which can be reviewed via the following link: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/22/section/68

Income from fees charged for immigration and nationality applications plays a vital role in our ability to run a sustainable immigration and nationality system. Application fees have increased in recent years to reduce the funding that comes from general taxation.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of Afghan nationals who have been evacuated to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (a) are in bridging hotels and (b) have moved into suitable permanent housing.

Answered by Victoria Atkins - Minister for Afghan resettlement

Between 15th and 29th August, the UK evacuated over 15,000 people from Afghanistan. Under ‘Operation Warm Welcome’, we are taking a cross-government approach to support Afghans to rebuild their lives, find work, pursue education and integrate with their local communities.

Over 4,000 individuals have either moved into a settled home or are in the process of being moved or matched to a suitable home.

Data on relocation will be published as part of our quarterly release which can be found at this link: Asylum and resettlement datasets - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average length of time is evacuated Afghan families are staying in bridging hotels before being moved to suitable housing.

Answered by Victoria Atkins - Minister for Afghan resettlement

We are working at pace with local authorities to source appropriate accommodation for Afghan families who were evacuated to the UK. Data on relocation will be published as part of our quarterly release which can be found at this link: Asylum and resettlement datasets - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Over 4,000 individuals have either moved into a settled home or are in the process of being moved or matched to a suitable home.

Over 300 Local Authorities have pledged housing. The length of time that a family will remain in bridging hotels is dependent on a number of factors including the offer of appropriate housing from Local Authorities. We are working at pace to encourage more offers, including matching employment offers with homes.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with her French counterpart on (a) the welfare of refugees in France who are attempting to arrive in the UK and (b) safeguards for child refugees who are targeted by criminal gangs operating in the English Channel.

Answered by Tom Pursglove - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)

The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date her Department received the request from the Kenyan Government for mutual legal assistance in relation to the killing of Agnes Wanjiru; and when she plans to respond to that request.

Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)

As a matter of longstanding policy, the Home Office neither confirms nor denies the existence of mutual legal assistance requests.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of giving asylum seekers the ability to claim asylum at British embassies across the globe.

Answered by Kevin Foster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The UK has a proud record of providing protection for people who need it, in accordance with our obligations under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights.

However, there is no provision within our Immigration Rules for someone to be allowed to travel to the UK to seek asylum or temporary refuge. Whilst we sympathise with people in many difficult situations around the world, we are not bound to consider asylum claims in British Embassies or High Commissions from the very large numbers of people overseas who might like to come here. Opening an opportunity to claim asylum would also make the operation of these locations impractical if large numbers sought to do so.

Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – that is the fastest route to safety.

We already welcome vulnerable people in need of protection to the UK through our resettlement schemes. These schemes have provided safe and legal routes for tens of thousands of people to start new lives in the UK. Through these routes we have resettled more refugees than any EU country since 2015. They include the UK Resettlement Scheme, the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme, and the Nationality and Borders Bill will establish in law safe and legal routes.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to update, and (2) to simplify, the (a) design, and (b) requirements, of the passenger locator forms required for international travellers arriving in England.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Passenger Locator Form has constantly evolved since its introduction in June 2020 to align with the requirements of the policies on international travel health requirements implemented by the Government and the Devolved Administrations.

It forms a vital part of the UKs pandemic response, helping to ensure safe and secure international travel and enabling health departments across the four nations to have robust trace and compliance assurance processes.

The Home Office, working in collaboration with departments across Whitehall and the Devolved Administrations, are in the process of reviewing the content of the form to simplify and improve usability of the system.

Further updates will be released on a continuing rolling basis as they are developed, streamlining the system, and adding new capabilities as international travel volumes continue to increase.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce delays following the introduction of biometric border checks in May 2022 on (1) passengers in vehicles using ports, and (2) the Eurotunnel, to travel to the EU.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office work closely across government and with our international partners, especially at the juxtaposed controls we operate together with France, to reduce delays for people traveling to or from the UK and to ensure Border Security is maintained.

Decisions on the requirements to enter the EU’s Schengen Zone are for our international partners to make, rather than the UK Government.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to allow descendants of the natives of the Chagos Archipelago to have the right to register as full British citizens.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Nationality and Borders Bill will introduce measures which will allow children of British Overseas Territories Citizen (BOTC) mothers, who were born before 1983; and the children of BOTC unmarried fathers who were born before 2006, to register as BOTCs.

Children of Chagossian mothers who left the Chagos Islands before 1969 would also be able to benefit from this change.

These changes to British nationality law will also allow these groups to acquire British citizenship more easily.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department carries out national risk assessments for immigration applications associated with applicants from specific (a) countries or (b) entry routes to the UK.

Answered by Tom Pursglove - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)

The Home Office no longer produces a National Risk Assessment in relation to any immigration applications.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential effect of offshore asylum processing on the mental health of people claiming asylum.

Answered by Kevin Foster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Nationality and Borders Bill, which is part of our New Plan for Immigration, seeks to build a fair, but firm asylum and illegal migration system.

On 16 September, we published an Equality Impact Assessment for the policies being taken forward through the Bill, which includes assessment of those who may have mental health needs. This can be found here: The Nationality and Borders Bill: equality impact assessment (accessible version) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The Home Office will continue to ensure the welfare and dignity of all claimants forms a central platform of our decision-making processes.

Any vulnerabilities will be taken into consideration and every single person who is eligible for removal under this policy will be able to make representations where they are concerned the country in question would not be safe for them.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure Afghan nationals resettled under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy are housed as close as possible to family or friends already living in the UK.

Answered by Victoria Atkins - Minister for Afghan resettlement

We are working at pace across government and with local authorities to source appropriate accommodation for Afghan families who were evacuated to the UK. The emergency circumstances of Operation Pitting meant that we were not able to secure long term accommodation for people as we would have liked before they flew to the UK.

Once properties are identified and referred to the Home Office, a matching exercise is undertaken which allows us to offer the property to a suitable family. Where possible, we will match families from local bridging hotels allowing them to remain in the area where they may have started to form connections and settle.

We know there are many Afghans who are ready and willing to work and to start their integration into UK society. Those who qualify for refugee status have access to mainstream benefits and services to enable their integration and immediate and unrestricted access to the labour market.

This includes the ability to seek out employment opportunities.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of making Holocaust denial a criminal offence.

Answered by Rachel Maclean - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

There are no plans to make Holocaust denial a criminal offence.

The Government believes that Holocaust denial is both immoral and factually wrong. However, legislation reflects the enormous value this country rightly places upon free speech. It enables people to engage in debate freely, while protecting people from criminal activity including threatening and abusive behaviour or behaviour which is intended to, or is likely to, stir up hatred.

I am clear that antisemitism in any form is inexcusable and this Government has taken a number of steps to help eliminate it over the last five years. In 2016 we became the first country in the world to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism. We’ve since had organisations such as the Premier League and over three-quarters of councils adopt the definition.

In July 2019 we also appointed Lord John Mann as an independent antisemitism advisor, to provide advice to the Government on the best ways to tackle antisemitism. Finally, we have provided £14m in funding this financial year (2021/22) for protection of Jewish institutions through the Jewish Community Protective Security (JCPS) Grant, administered through the Community Security Trust (CST).

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department’s process is for (a) recording and (b) keeping minutes of all meetings relating to Government business.

Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)

All meetings are conducted in full accordance with Section 8.14 of the Ministerial Code, which stipulates that all meetings on official business are arranged through Minister’s departments, with an official present for all discussions related to Government policy.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many children are currently waiting for a decision on their asylum application and have waited for over six months.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release, which can be found on go.uk. Data on the number of people awaiting a decision on an asylum application are published in table ASY_D03 of the 'asylum and resettlement detailed datasets', which can be found attached. Age breakdowns are not available in the published data.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what consultations, if any, they are having with religious groups about potential legislation on immigration.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government’s New Plan for Immigration is delivering the most comprehensive reform of the asylum system in decades. An essential element of the Plan is the Nationality and Borders Bill.

A public consultation on the Plan was held earlier this year, with a wide variety of stakeholders from different sections of our society taking part. The Government published its response to the consultation in July, and this can be found on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/new-plan-for-immigration.

The Government regularly engages with individuals and groups with an interest in migration, including religious groups, as we take forward the Bill and deliver the New Plan for Immigration.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Unexplained Wealth Orders were issued each year under the Criminal Finances Act 2017; and in each case, (1) what was the value of the wealth, (2) what subsequent prosecutions took place, and (3) what were the outcomes of any such prosecutions.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Minister of State (Home Office)

Unexplained wealth orders (UWOs) and accompanying interim freezing orders have been used in four investigations to date. Two of those investigations have concluded, two are ongoing. On 8 April 2020 the High Court discharged UWOs sought in a single investigation, permission to appeal was refused. On 2 October 2020, the High Court approved a settlement for the recovery of property with a combined value of £9,802,828, subsequent to a UWO investigation. Prosecutions do not succeed UWO application, which are a civil process. Enforcement authorities with the powers to seek UWOs are operationally independent.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Home Office on 16 April (175879), whether they now intend to publish the internal review looking into the assessment of asylum claims on the grounds of (1) religion, and (2) sexuality.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Minister of State (Home Office)

The UK has a proud record of providing protection to individuals fleeing persecution based on their religious beliefs, sexual orientation and gender identity and are committed to delivering an asylum system that is responsive to all forms of persecution.

The review into the way asylum claims on the basis of religious and LGBT+ grounds are assessed has been completed. The Home Office do not have any plans to publish the findings of this internal review.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether issuing priority removal notices and evidence notices to those under the age of 18 at the time of their arrival in the UK is compliant with (1) the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, (2) the Children Act 1989, and (3) the Children Act 2004.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Minister of State (Home Office)

As part of our obligations under the public sector equality duty, an equality impact assessment has been completed in respect of the measures in the Nationality and Borders Bill concerning priority removal notices and evidence notices, this includes a consideration of possible impacts on children.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner Safety before Status, published on 20 October.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Minister of State (Home Office)

As per section 16 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, the Government has 56 days beginning with the day on which the report is published to respond to recommendations by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner.

The Government is carefully considering the recommendations in the ‘Safety Before Status’ report and will publish a response in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the 5,000 temporary visas for overseas heavy goods vehicle drivers made available in September 2021 have been issued to date.

Answered by Kevin Foster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

I refer the Honourable Member to the response given in the other place to Lord Berkeley on 30 November 2021, UIN HL3979.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to withdraw the responsibility for the Windrush Compensation Scheme from the Home Office and give the responsibility to an independent body.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Minister of State (Home Office)

Moving the operation of the Scheme from the Home Office would risk significantly delaying payments to people.

Since the changes we made to the Scheme in December, the amount of compensation paid has risen from less than £3 million to over £31.6 million, with a further £5.6 million having been offered, and there is no cap on the amount of compensation we will pay out.

The compensation scheme continues to be subject to robust internal scrutiny and regular scrutiny from external stakeholders.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department takes to ensure that at least one official from her Department is present during all (a) meetings and (b) phone calls relating to Government business between Ministers and third parties.

Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)

All meetings are conducted in full accordance with Section 8.14 of the Ministerial Code, which stipulates that all meetings on official business are arranged through Minister’s departments, with an official present for all discussions related to Government policy.

The UK Government should give all foreign nationals who have served in the British Armed Forces the right to remain in the UK. Commonwealth ex-servicemen may be eligible for indefinite leave to remain in the UK after 4 years’ service, but must apply for leave to remain after they are discharged.

We want the Government to create a fund, available to all local police forces, to enable increased enforcement of road traffic offences by cyclists and people using scooters, including cycling on the pavement illegally.

📢 Our #BordersBill has PASSED It will deliver an asylum system that is firm but fair, allowing us to deter illegal migration and help those most in need. The details 👉 https://t.co/4P4N1bVIN0 #NewPlanForImmigration https://t.co/deSKSxGH2O

The Borders Bill will allow us to hand out tougher sentences and enhance Border Force’s power to pursue the organised criminal gangs behind these dangerous journeys. 📲 https://t.co/kThwzL8s9h #NewPlanForImmigration https://t.co/y5NfuhC57r

"The #BordersBill in the @HouseofCommons today will create a faster and fairer asylum system that supports the most vulnerable in genuine need — not the people smugglers." 💬 Home Secretary @pritipatel #NewPlanForImmigration https://t.co/llby8EeweX

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans are in place to improve the assistance provided to British citizens and their dependents to leave Afghanistan.

Answered by James Cleverly - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Providing assistance to those individuals eligible for HMG support remains a top priority and we will continue to work to take advantage of all opportunities to help those eligible to come to the UK. We have created a new Joint Afghanistan Casework Unit (JACU), staffed by officials from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office, Home Office and Ministry of Defence, which is taking forward the UK's commitment to resettle individuals and those family members confirmed to be eligible. We continue to facilitate the departure of British nationals and eligible family members on flights organised by the Qatari government, and we are working closely with international partners on further possible flight options. Our Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) will welcome up to 5,000 vulnerable Afghans to the UK in its first year, with up to a total of 20,000 over the coming years.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to publicise the Global Talent Visa programme to potential applicants, particularly to scientists; and how they plan to measure their progress towards securing the UK’s status as a Science and Tech Superpower by 2030, as promised in Global Britain in a competitive age: The Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, published on 16 March.

Answered by Lord True - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Office for Talent, with other government departments, is developing the GREAT campaign to attract those working in science and technology and inspire them to live and work in the United Kingdom. This will include highlighting the Global Talent visa route. The Home Office works hard to ensure the UK’s immigration rules are clear and accessible and our visa system is easy to navigate for those who want to come to the UK.

The Prime Minister has put his science and technology superpower ambitions at the heart of government business by setting up the new National Science & Technology Council (NSTC). The new Office for Science & Technology Strategy in the Cabinet Office will inform and deliver the NSTC’s vision - this includes monitoring the impact of its decisions on the UK’s status as a science and technology superpower. The Government Office for Science’s Technology and Science Insights team will provide independent and objective analysis to support this work.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Government announcement of temporary visas for 5,000 HGV drivers on 25 September 2021, how many temporary visas have been granted for HGV drivers who transport (a) fuel and (b) food.

Answered by Trudy Harrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Details of the numbers of temporary work visas granted for HGV drivers in food distribution will be published in the usual way via the Home Office’s quarterly immigration statistics.

On 1 October, the Home Office stood up at pace an emergency arrangement for HGV drivers in the fuels supply sector. This arrangement permitted fully licenced and qualified drivers, identified by the fuel transport sector and endorsed by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to take up employment in the UK on a temporary basis.

This arrangement has formed part of a wider response. The Government has implemented 32 different actions to promote jobs, training, and a range of other initiatives to get more people into HGV driving.

Found: D econtamination at the scene r eferences Home Office.