Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether members of the White Helmets and their families evacuated from Syria vis Israel have arrived in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Together with international partners, the UK is working to resettle members of the White Helmets and their families. Any resettlement to the UK will be in line with the established UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) process for identifying and resettling the most vulnerable refugees. Our prime concern for those coming to the UK under our resettlement schemes is their safety and protection as they arrive in this country. We believe that one way to protect their privacy and support their recovery and integration is to limit the amount of information about them that we make publicly available.
Notwithstanding this the Home Office is committed to publishing data on arrivals in an orderly way as part of the regular quarterly Immigration Statistics, in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the statement on the resettlement of White Helmets by the Foreign Secretary and the International Development Secretary on 22 July, what estimate has been made of the costs to (1) the Exchequer, and (2) local government of (a) exfiltrating members of that group from Syria to the UK, (b) maintaining this group together with their families in the UK for five years, and (c) providing additional security for local communities in the UK given the group’s reported links to jihadist extremists in Syria.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
In addition to the costs of staff time associated with facilitating the departure of White Helmets personnel and dependents from Syria we have agreed, with partners, to cover the costs of their transportation and temporary stay in Jordan through the relevant UN agencies, as necessary. We are not yet in a position to estimate the final UK contribution.
As with all refugees resettled under the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme, funding would be allocated to local authorities on a per capita basis, with tariff amounts and payment terms clearly set-out in the scheme’s funding instructions. There is also an exceptional cases fund to assist the most vulnerable refugees.
We take the security of our resettlement process extremely seriously. When potential cases are submitted by the UNHCR for consideration, they are carefully screened and considered for suitability for entry to the UK. We take the utmost care to ensure that those people coming here undergo rigorous vetting.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the statement on the resettlement of White Helmets by the Foreign Secretary and the International Development Secretary on 22 July, whether they will ensure that before members of that group are relocated in the UK, local councils will be informed of the controversial reports relating to the White Helmets and appropriate financial and security support will be given to those councils.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Together with international partners, the UK is working to resettle members of the White Helmets and their families. Any resettlement to the UK would be in line with the established UNHCR process for identifying and resettling the most vulnerable refugees where resettlement is the most appropriate durable solution for their circumstances and only where the eligibility criteria for our schemes is met.
We take the security of our resettlement process extremely seriously. When potential cases are submitted by the UNHCR for consideration, they are carefully screened and considered for suitability for entry to the UK. We take the utmost care to ensure that those people coming here undergo rigorous vetting.
As with all refugees resettled under the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme, funding would be allocated to local authorities on a per capita basis, with tariff amounts and payment terms clearly set-out in the scheme’s funding instructions. The first 12 months of a refugee's resettlement costs are funded by central government using the Official Development Assistance budget. There is also an exceptional cases fund to assist the most vulnerable refugees.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the statement on the resettlement of White Helmets by the Foreign Secretary and the International Development Secretary on 22 July, whether members of that group will be resettled in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Together with international partners, the UK is working to resettle members of the White Helmets and their families. Any resettlement to the UK would be in line with the established UNHCR process for identifying and resettling the most vulnerable refugees where resettlement is the most appropriate durable solution for their circumstances and only where the eligibility criteria for our schemes is met.
We take the security of our resettlement process extremely seriously. When potential cases are submitted by the UNHCR for consideration, they are carefully screened and considered for suitability for entry to the UK. We take the utmost care to ensure that those people coming here undergo rigorous vetting.
As with all refugees resettled under the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme, funding would be allocated to local authorities on a per capita basis, with tariff amounts and payment terms clearly set-out in the scheme’s funding instructions. The first 12 months of a refugee's resettlement costs are funded by central government using the Official Development Assistance budget. There is also an exceptional cases fund to assist the most vulnerable refugees.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what they consider to be a reasonable timescale in determining whether an individual can be detained pending removal, as provided for in the Immigration Act 2016: Draft Revised Guidance on adults at risk in immigration detention, published in March.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
In every decision to detain or to maintain detention, there must be a realistic prospect of removal within a reasonable timescale. What is reasonable in any given case depends on the exact circumstances of that case.
When an individual falls within the scope of the adults at risk in immigration detention policy, the vulnerability factors in their case will be a key consideration in determining whether the length of detention necessary to effect their removal is reasonable.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people have been held in UK immigration detention centres for over two months in 2018.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Information on the number of people in detention, by length of detention is available in table dt_12_q of the detention tables in the latest release of ‘Immigration Statistics, year ending March 2018’, available from the GOV.uk website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/709326/detention-mar-2018-tables.ods Table dt_12_q has also been attached for ease of reference.
People in detention by length of detention |
| |
As at end of quarter | Length of detention | Total detainees |
2018 Q1 | *Total | 2,758 |
2018 Q1 | A: 3 days or less | 182 |
2018 Q1 | B: 4 to 7 days | 164 |
2018 Q1 | C: 8 to 14 days | 335 |
2018 Q1 | D: 15 to 28 days | 440 |
2018 Q1 | E: 29 days to less than 2 months | 570 |
2018 Q1 | F: 2 months to less than 3 months | 289 |
2018 Q1 | G: 3 months to less than 4 months | 167 |
2018 Q1 | H: 4 months to less than 6 months | 254 |
2018 Q1 | I: 6 months to less than 12 months | 286 |
2018 Q1 | J: 12 months to less than 18 months | 55 |
2018 Q1 | K: 18 months to less than 24 months | 11 |
2018 Q1 | L: 24 months to less than 36 months | 4 |
2018 Q1 | M: 36 months to less than 48 months | 1 |
2018 Q1 | N: 48 months or more | 0 |
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of people held in UK immigration detention centres for over one year have been subsequently removed from the UK since May 2017.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Information on the number of people leaving detention, by length of detention and reason is available in table dt_06_q (see below) of the detention tables in the latest release of ‘Immigration Statistics, year ending March 2018’, available from the GOV.uk website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/709326/detention-mar-2018-tables.ods
Table dt_06_q
Table dt_06_q: People leaving detention by reason, sex, and length of detention | ||||||||
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Quarter | Length of detention | Total Detainees | Returned from the | Granted leave to enter / remain | Bailed (Secretary of State) | Bailed (Immigration Judge) | Other | |
2010 Q1 | *Total | 6,675 | 4,209 | 47 | 1,952 | 395 | 72 | |
2010 Q2 | *Total | 6,100 | 3,940 | 34 | 1,683 | 374 | 69 | |
2010 Q3 | *Total | 6,684 | 4,326 | 35 | 1,819 | 420 | 84 | |
2010 Q4 | *Total | 6,500 | 4,102 | 25 | 1,891 | 407 | 75 | |
2011 Q1 | *Total | 6,888 | 4,326 | 48 | 2,027 | 415 | 72 | |
2011 Q2 | *Total | 6,339 | 3,854 | 49 | 1,915 | 455 | 66 | |
2011 Q3 | *Total | 6,596 | 4,085 | 38 | 1,949 | 462 | 62 | |
2011 Q4 | *Total | 7,358 | 4,571 | 40 | 2,197 | 488 | 62 | |
2012 Q1 | *Total | 6,904 | 4,275 | 44 | 2,029 | 500 | 56 | |
2012 Q2 | *Total | 7,029 | 4,277 | 29 | 2,187 | 486 | 50 | |
2012 Q3 | *Total | 7,188 | 4,278 | 43 | 2,352 | 460 | 55 | |
2012 Q4 | *Total | 7,454 | 4,416 | 36 | 2,423 | 498 | 81 | |
2013 Q1 | *Total | 7,102 | 4,169 | 31 | 2,458 | 383 | 61 | |
2013 Q2 | *Total | 7,613 | 4,421 | 27 | 2,666 | 423 | 76 | |
2013 Q3 | *Total | 7,933 | 4,131 | 73 | 3,215 | 450 | 64 | |
2013 Q4 | *Total | 7,382 | 4,212 | 83 | 2,592 | 451 | 44 | |
2014 Q1 | *Total | 6,864 | 3,985 | 95 | 2,282 | 450 | 52 | |
2014 Q2 | *Total | 6,876 | 3,855 | 93 | 2,413 | 452 | 63 | |
2014 Q3 | *Total | 8,039 | 3,957 | 80 | 3,425 | 524 | 53 | |
2014 Q4 | *Total | 7,895 | 3,876 | 86 | 3,155 | 685 | 93 | |
2015 Q1 | *Total | 7,523 | 3,762 | 71 | 2,817 | 787 | 86 | |
2015 Q2 | *Total | 8,192 | 3,973 | 64 | 3,274 | 793 | 88 | |
2015 Q3 | *Total | 8,899 | 3,568 | 27 | 4,324 | 866 | 114 | |
2015 Q4 | *Total | 8,612 | 3,803 | 18 | 3,915 | 764 | 112 | |
2016 Q1 | *Total | 6,944 | 3,314 | 10 | 2,876 | 660 | 84 | |
2016 Q2 | *Total | 7,612 | 3,528 | 24 | 3,189 | 782 | 89 | |
2016 Q3 | *Total | 7,042 | 3,205 | 18 | 3,038 | 673 | 108 | |
2016 Q4 | *Total | 7,079 | 3,426 | 7 | 2,831 | 722 | 93 | |
2017 Q1 | *Total | 7,173 | 3,587 | 21 | 2,772 | 721 | 72 | |
2017 Q2 | *Total | 6,568 | 3,154 | 15 | 2,594 | 738 | 67 | |
2017 Q3 | *Total | 6,989 | 3,198 | 81 | 2,396 | 1,221 | 93 | |
2017 Q4 | *Total | 7,514 | 3,234 | 52 | 2,801 | 1,300 | 127 | |
2018 Q1 | *Total | 6,358 | 3,067 | 10 | 2,113 | 1,073 | 95 | |
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people died in UK immigration detention centres from suicide or self-inflicted wounds between 1 March 2017 and 1 March 2018.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Any death in immigration detention is subject to investigation by the police, the coroner (or Procurator Fiscal in Scotland) and the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.
In the period 1 March 2017 to 1 March 2018 there have been 8 deaths of individuals while detained in an immigration removal centre under immigration powers or shortly after release. Of these deaths none has yet been determined by a coroner to be a self-inflicted death.
Staff at all immigration removal centres are trained to identify those at risk of self harm so that action can be taken to minimise the risk. All incidents of self harm are treated very seriously and every step is taken to prevent incidents of this nature. Formal risk assessments on initial detention and systems for raising concerns at any subsequent point feed into established self harm procedures in every IRC, which are in turn underpinned by the Home Office Operating Standard on the prevention of self-harm and Detention Services Order 06/2008 Assessment Care in Detention Teamwork (ACDT).
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made under the EU–Horn of Africa Migration Route Initiative to tackle irregular migration from the Horn of Africa.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Khartoum Process has made good progress to address people smuggling and human trafficking in the Horn of Africa. The UK chaired two thematic meetings in 2016 and 2017 and Egypt hosted a trilateral meeting (Khartoum/Rabat Processes and Horn of Africa Initiative) in November 2017 to understand progress to date; ongoing challenges and the solutions needed for a joined-up and concerted response.
The Khartoum Process has approved 147 programmes under its Better Migration Management (BMM) programme in this area and it also continues to implement the Regional Operation Centre of Khartoum (ROCK) which aims to improve cooperation and information sharing between law enforcement agencies to effectively disrupt the people smuggling and trafficking rings exploiting migrants. The 2018 Italian Chairmanship will build upon these efforts with further thematic and training workshops alongside a review of thematic conclusions to ensure tangible future delivery. There will also be a Joint Senior Officials Meeting in November to assess the progress made under the Joint Valletta Action Plan.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the statement by the Prime Minister’s spokesman on 5 September that information relating to the Azerbaijani Laundromat scheme received from the media would be examined by the National Crime Agency (NCA), whether they have asked (1) the NCA, or (2) a financial regulator, to examine allegations relating to UK-registered companies and partnerships.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Investigations into allegations of money laundering are conducted by law enforcement agencies such as the National Crime Agency, the Serious Fraud Office, and the police. Decision in whether to investigate and how to do so is purely a matter for law enforcement. The NCA, SFO, and the police of are operationally independent of the Government.