Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many refugees they expect to be resettled in the UK through the UK Resettlement Scheme in 2026.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The UK has a proud history of providing protection and we continue to welcome refugees and people in need through our safe and legal routes.
As announced in Restoring Order and Control, we are developing new capped sponsored refugee pathways. These will include education, labour and community routes. This transformative change to safe and legal routes will revolutionise the way in which we offer opportunities to refugees. The Home Office is working with partners, including local authorities, to design and operationalise these routes.
As part of the fundamental change to the UK’s protection offer, the annual cap will be set in consultation with local authorities, partners, and community sponsors. The approach will reflect community capacity to welcome and support refugees.
The number of refugees resettled through the UKRS in any given year will depend on a range of factors, including the capacity of local authorities to welcome, accommodate and integrate refugees.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to consult local authorities when setting the cap for refugee arrivals through safe and legal routes.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The UK has a proud history of providing protection and we continue to welcome refugees and people in need through our safe and legal routes.
As announced in Restoring Order and Control, we are developing new capped sponsored refugee pathways. These will include education, labour and community routes. This transformative change to safe and legal routes will revolutionise the way in which we offer opportunities to refugees. The Home Office is working with partners, including local authorities, to design and operationalise these routes.
As part of the fundamental change to the UK’s protection offer, the annual cap will be set in consultation with local authorities, partners, and community sponsors. The approach will reflect community capacity to welcome and support refugees.
The number of refugees resettled through the UKRS in any given year will depend on a range of factors, including the capacity of local authorities to welcome, accommodate and integrate refugees.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 22 December 2025 (HL12809), what criteria they are using to select specific individuals out of those eligible for removal to France under the 'one-in, one-out' scheme.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The pilot was agreed with both France and the European Commission in order to ensure it is compliant with domestic, European and International law. Eligibility criteria are set out in the Agreement.
The pilot operates within existing legal frameworks and policies. All individuals will have their cases reviewed regularly in line with standard policies and guidance, and this includes both while detained and if any claims of being a victim of torture or of human trafficking and modern slavery are raised.
Decisions on continuing suitability for detention are made on a case-by-case basis.
Detained individuals are advised of their right to legal representation, and how they can obtain such representation, within 24 hours of their arrival at an Immigration Removal Centre (IRC). Ahead of pilot launch and throughout its duration, the Home Office has engaged with officials from the Ministry of Justice and the judiciary to ensure individuals have access to justice. The Home Office continues to engage with a wide range of NGOs and other external stakeholders.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have consulted non-governmental organisations, immigration lawyers and legal aid experts about whether people facing removal under the 'one in, one out' scheme have sufficient time to access legal representation or challenge removal decisions.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The pilot was agreed with both France and the European Commission in order to ensure it is compliant with domestic, European and International law. Eligibility criteria are set out in the Agreement.
The pilot operates within existing legal frameworks and policies. All individuals will have their cases reviewed regularly in line with standard policies and guidance, and this includes both while detained and if any claims of being a victim of torture or of human trafficking and modern slavery are raised.
Decisions on continuing suitability for detention are made on a case-by-case basis.
Detained individuals are advised of their right to legal representation, and how they can obtain such representation, within 24 hours of their arrival at an Immigration Removal Centre (IRC). Ahead of pilot launch and throughout its duration, the Home Office has engaged with officials from the Ministry of Justice and the judiciary to ensure individuals have access to justice. The Home Office continues to engage with a wide range of NGOs and other external stakeholders.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support is offered to potential victims of torture, trafficking or modern slavery who may face removal under the 'one in, one out' scheme.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The pilot was agreed with both France and the European Commission in order to ensure it is compliant with domestic, European and International law. Eligibility criteria are set out in the Agreement.
The pilot operates within existing legal frameworks and policies. All individuals will have their cases reviewed regularly in line with standard policies and guidance, and this includes both while detained and if any claims of being a victim of torture or of human trafficking and modern slavery are raised.
Decisions on continuing suitability for detention are made on a case-by-case basis.
Detained individuals are advised of their right to legal representation, and how they can obtain such representation, within 24 hours of their arrival at an Immigration Removal Centre (IRC). Ahead of pilot launch and throughout its duration, the Home Office has engaged with officials from the Ministry of Justice and the judiciary to ensure individuals have access to justice. The Home Office continues to engage with a wide range of NGOs and other external stakeholders.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 2 January (HL12929), whether they plan to allow asylum seekers who are awaiting a decision after 12 months to apply for any job, including those not contained in the immigration salary list and the shortage occupation list.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Under the current system, permission to work for asylum seekers remains restricted to applying for roles on the Immigration Salary List, to protect the integrity of the asylum system and avoid creating incentives for irregular migration. Asylum seekers can undertake volunteering activities in charitable or public sector organisations, so long as it does not amount to unpaid work.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether child benefit will be included in the proposals regarding public funds in A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, and Restoring Order and Control, published on 20 November.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Child Benefit is listed as a public fund in Section 115 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and paragraph 6 of the Immigration rules.
The Fairer Pathway to Settlement consultation on earned settlement seeks views on whether the qualifying period for settlement should be increased by five or ten years if the applicant has claimed public funds and whether the law should be changed so that it would be possible to make settlement subject to a “no recourse to public funds” condition.
The consultation is open to anyone who wishes to share their views, including individuals, organisations, and other stakeholders who may be affected by or have an interest in the proposed changes.
As set out in the Restoring Order and Control statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, published on 21 November 2025, access to taxpayer funded benefits will be prioritised for those making an economic contribution. A consultation is planned for this year.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to introduce the new safe and legal routes set out in Restoring Order and Control, updated on 21 November, and what estimate they have made of the number of refugees who will be able to enter through those routes.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The UK has a proud history of providing protection and we continue to welcome refugees and people in need through our safe and legal routes.
As announced in Restoring Order and Control, we are developing new capped sponsored refugee pathways across education, labour and community routes. This transformative change to safe and legal routes will revolutionise the way in which we offer opportunities to refugees. Policy development is underway, and the Home Office is working at pace with partners to design and operationalise these routes as soon as practicable.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the protection work and study visa proposed in Restoring Order and Control, updated on 21 November, what the fee level will be; what criteria will be used to govern entry through that route; and how soon asylum seekers will be able to earn settlement on that route.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The full details of the Core Protection offer, and the Protection Work and Study route, remain subject to further policy development which will be set out in due course. Settlement requirements will also be considered as part of our consultation. We are currently consulting on how the settlement system should be reformed and how those reforms should be implemented.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the asylum policy in Restoring Order and Control, updated on 21 November, whether asylum seekers who are awaiting a decision after 12 months will be able to apply for jobs.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Asylum seekers are eligible to apply for permission to work in the UK if their claim has been outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own. There are no current plans to change this policy.