Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consultation with naturalised citizens they undertook before launching the current Life in the UK citizenship test.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Life in the UK test is based upon our handbook – Life in the UK: A Guide for New Residents – which is available for all applicants to study as part of their test preparation. It was revised substantively in 2013, and took into account feedback received from previous applicants and others who had provided comments on it. The content of the handbook moved away from statistics and related information and put the emphasis on British history, culture and democracy. The test questions were revised at this time to reflect the change in emphasis.
We will consider whether it would be appropriate to make the test available in Cornish as part of the protected minority status.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of the Public statement: relationship no longer subsisting forms.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
No formal assessment has been made of the use of the Public Statement: Relationship No Longer Subsisting Forms.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the amount of fees received by the Home Office from UK citizens for (1) border, (2) immigration, and (3) citizenship services quarterly since 1 January 2010.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
For Border, Immigration and Citizenship services, fees are paid by UK citizens for HM Passport and Government Register Office services. Details of income received for these services are set out in the Departmental Annual Report and Accounts. Providing the complete information requested would exceed the word limit for written parlimentary questions. However the information requested can be found in the attached document.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the amount of fees received by the Home Office for (1) border, (2) immigration, and (3) citizenship services, quarterly since 1 January 2010.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Details of the income that the Department has generated from border, immigration and citizenship services is provided in the Annual Report and Accounts, published on Gov.uk. Providing the complete information requested would exceed the word limit for written parlimentary questions. However the information requested can be found in the attached document.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many attempts to sit the Life in the UK citizenship test have been made in each month since 1 January 2010.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
This information is published quarterly here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data
On the tab: Temporary and Permanent Migration Data
The monthly breakdown is as follows (in line with the most recent published data).
Test Attempts : Life in the UK Test by Year and Month
1st January 2010 to 30th June 2017
Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
2010 | 12,971 | 14,828 | 17,768 | 15,746 | 15,538 | 15,655 | 15,762 | 14,451 | 14,819 | 16,408 | 16,133 | 13,483 |
2011 | 16,304 | 17,588 | 21,574 | 16,826 | 16,529 | 15,543 | 13,848 | 12,656 | 12,836 | 13,331 | 13,112 | 10,687 |
2012 | 13,284 | 13,562 | 15,774 | 11,231 | 11,896 | 12,227 | 12,868 | 14,613 | 14,052 | 12,316 | 11,347 | 8,686 |
2013 | 11,100 | 15,737 | 23,011 | 7,426 | 8,691 | 10,249 | 10,443 | 12,267 | 15,324 | 17,360 | 11,886 | 8,963 |
2014 | 13,525 | 12,958 | 16,561 | 14,403 | 15,483 | 14,673 | 13,781 | 14,139 | 11,753 | 13,337 | 13,440 | 11,686 |
2015 | 14,317 | 13,732 | 15,439 | 14,588 | 15,530 | 14,904 | 14,796 | 14,845 | 17,285 | 17,760 | 12,089 | 9,896 |
2016 | 10,792 | 11,757 | 14,350 | 13,076 | 10,653 | 10,291 | 12,002 | 11,971 | 10,540 | 8,554 | 10,637 | 8,881 |
2017 | 9,679 | 11,189 | 14,155 | 11,329 | 10,337 | 9,257 |
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Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many individuals passed the Life in the UK citizenship test in each month since 1 January 2010.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
This information is published quarterly here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data
The monthly breakdown is as follows (in line with the most recent published data):
Test Passes : Life in the UK Test by Year and Month
1st January 2010 to 30th June 2017
Calendar Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
2010 | 10,054 | 11,013 | 13,030 | 11,710 | 11,412 | 11,383 | 11,629 | 10,682 | 10,839 | 11,871 | 11,434 | 9,586 |
2011 | 11,881 | 12,970 | 15,839 | 12,480 | 12,316 | 11,898 | 11,036 | 10,371 | 10,499 | 10,773 | 10,612 | 8,697 |
2012 | 11,082 | 11,444 | 13,264 | 9,470 | 10,111 | 10,485 | 11,161 | 12,657 | 12,100 | 10,509 | 9,699 | 7,438 |
2013 | 9,580 | 13,871 | 19,734 | 5,207 | 6,476 | 7,751 | 7,794 | 9,208 | 11,262 | 12,126 | 8,236 | 5,880 |
2014 | 8,664 | 8,234 | 10,559 | 8,572 | 9,170 | 8,694 | 8,088 | 8,541 | 7,204 | 8,109 | 8,174 | 6,950 |
2015 | 8,844 | 8,710 | 9,625 | 8,790 | 9,499 | 9,085 | 9,139 | 9,019 | 10,471 | 10,112 | 7,151 | 6,242 |
2016 | 6,940 | 7,658 | 9,322 | 8,416 | 6,556 | 6,533 | 8,361 | 8,037 | 6,814 | 5,430 | 6,587 | 5,560 |
2017 | 6,203 | 7,558 | 9,543 | 7,748 | 6,939 | 6,392 |
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Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the amount of fees received by the Home Office from people using email to make enquiries about (1) border, (2) immigration, and (3) citizenship services monthly in 2017 to date.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The £5.48 email charge is levied to fund the commercial contract as the UK government believes it is right that those who use and benefit directly from the UK immigration system make an appropriate contribution towards meeting the costs of the immigration system. Those who use the services are predominantly from outside the UK. Our web site www.gov.uk is the main source of information and advice and is free of charge.
Further details of the financial arrangement in place between the Home Office and SITEL UK Ltd for the provision of Contact Centre Services (UK and International) is not available due to it being commercially sensitive.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of fees received by the Home Office from people overseas using email to make enquiries about (1) border, (2) immigration, and (3) citizenship services, has been used to fund activities other than providing email responses monthly in 2017 to date.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The £5.48 email charge is levied to fund the commercial contract as the UK government believes it is right that those who use and benefit directly from the UK immigration system make an appropriate contribution towards meeting the costs of the immigration system. Those who use the services are predominantly from outside the UK. Our web site www.gov.uk is the main source of information and advice and is free of charge.
Further details of the financial arrangement in place between the Home Office and SITEL UK Ltd for the provision of Contact Centre Services (UK and International) is not available due to it being commercially sensitive.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the quality of passenger services on Southern Rail.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The quality of passenger services on Southern Rail has been significantly better since the New Year with the Public Performance Measure of punctuality currently at 82%, compared to 62% in early December 2016. The latest National Rail Passenger Survey showed a 7% increase in overall journey satisfaction on Southern Rail compared with the previous survey.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations ministers have received regarding passenger services on Southern Rail.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ministers receive numerous representations about Southern Rail from individuals and organisations – through both formal and informal channels. The government is committed to making sure passengers receive the reliable, high quality services on Southern they deserve, and I am encouraged that the Public Performance Measure of punctuality is currently at 82% compared to 62% in early December 2016.