Asked by: Baroness Sugg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following Royal Assent to the Public Order Act 2023 on 2 May, when safe access zones will be implemented around abortion clinics in England and Wales.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Baroness Sugg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when safe access zones around abortion clinics will be implemented, following the granting of Royal Assent to the Public Order Act on 2 May 2023.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The timescales for commencing the new Section 9 offence of interference with access to, or provision of, abortion services will be confirmed in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Sugg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many pregnant women were removed from the UK in accordance with immigration rules in each year from 2018 to 2022.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
We do not routinely publish this information, we are unable to provide this information, as it could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Baroness Sugg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many pregnant women arrived in the UK via small boats in (1) 2021, (2) 2022, and (3) to date in 2023.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The Home Office ensures that vulnerable small boats arrivals are identified quickly and supported accordingly in line with robust safeguarding processes.
The Home Office has previously established that a total of 77 pregnant women were accommodated at Manston between April and December 2022.
Information about the number of pregnant women that arrived in the UK by small boats in 2021, early 2022, and in 2023 to date is not held in a reportable or readily retrievable format and could also be made available only at a disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Baroness Sugg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many pregnant women claimed asylum in each year from 2015 to 2022.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The number of pregnant women that claimed asylum within the timeframe specified is not held in a reportable format and would require a manual search through individual records at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Baroness Sugg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to providing free period products to schools in England.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Shadow Minister (Education)
In January 2020, the department launched a new scheme which makes free period products available for state-funded primary schools, secondary schools, and colleges in England. This scheme was extended in July 2022 for a further two years.
Since the scheme launched, 97% of secondary schools have accessed the scheme, as have 92% of post-16 organisations and 68% of primary schools.
Asked by: Baroness Sugg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much the Home Office has allocated to Official Development Assistance for (1) actual costs for refugee and asylum seekers for the first six months of the calendar year, and (2) estimated costs for refugee and asylum seekers for the full calendar year.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
Given the complexity of factors involved in calculating ODA spend, the Home Office does not categorise data on ODA spend in a way that makes it possible to answer this question.
The next ODA expenditure is due at the end of the current financial year, which is April 2023
Asked by: Baroness Sugg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to providing guidance to teachers to ensure that girls are treated sensitively and appropriately during their menstrual cycle.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Shadow Minister (Education)
From September 2020, as part of statutory health education, primary and secondary pupils should be taught about menstrual wellbeing, including key facts about the menstrual cycle and implications for health. The statutory guidance can be accessed via the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/805781/Relationships_Education__Relationships_and_Sex_Education__RSE__and_Health_Education.pdf.
The department is funding access to free period products in state-funded primary schools, secondary schools and colleges in England. Our guidance states that teachers should work with their pupils on determining which products to order and how these should be distributed. Guidance for period products can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/period-products-in-schools-and-colleges/period-product-scheme-for-schools-and-colleges-in-england#overview%20Period%20product%20scheme%20for%20schools%20and%20colleges%20in%20England%20-%20GOV.UK%20(www.gov.uk).
Asked by: Baroness Sugg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in relation to the first 12 months of costs for (1) refugees, and (2) asylum seekers, what was the cost incurred for the first six months of this calendar year; and what estimate they have made of the costs incurred for the second six months of this calendar year.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The significant increase in dangerous journeys across the Channel is placing unprecedented strain on our asylum system and it has made it necessary to continue to use hotels to accommodate some asylum seekers. The use of hotels is a short-term solution and we are working hard with local authorities to find appropriate accommodation.
There are currently more than 37,000 asylum seekers in hotels costing the UK taxpayer £5.6 million a day. Occupancy levels vary and the number of people flowing through contingency hotel accommodation in any one month is not recorded.
Asked by: Baroness Sugg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what share of the costs for hotel rooms booked for refugees and asylum seekers relate to the first 12 months after arrival.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The significant increase in dangerous journeys across the Channel is placing unprecedented strain on our asylum system and it has made it necessary to continue to use hotels to accommodate some asylum seekers. The use of hotels is a short-term solution and we are working hard with local authorities to find appropriate accommodation.
There are currently more than 37,000 asylum seekers in hotels costing the UK taxpayer £5.6 million a day. Occupancy levels vary and the number of people flowing through contingency hotel accommodation in any one month is not recorded.