Poverty: International Development Aid

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Monday 15th January 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con)]

It is the turn of the Cross Benches.

Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Thursday 28th October 2021 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con)]

My Lords, the noble Lord highlights a terrible event in Sheffield. We need to ensure, first, that the quality of accommodation is of a standard and we avoid such terrible incidents, and, secondly, that we ensure that we get people into permanent accommodation.

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean (Lab)]

My Lords, do the Government really not know how many interpreters we had in Afghanistan? That seems extraordinary. They must have been paid by the British Government or others on their behalf. Surely the Minister can find out, if she is unable to tell us today, how many we had.

[Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con)]

I was not saying that the Government do not know; I said that I did not have the figures at my fingertips, and of course I will find out for the noble Baroness.

Immigration: Refugee Doctors

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Monday 24th February 2020 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

The right reverend Prelate will recognise that the ambition for this coming year is that it should exceed previous years, and he will know that under our various resettlement schemes we are on course to resettle 20,000 people from the region this year. It is difficult to make commitments beyond this year because of the spending review, frustrating though that is, but I will keep him posted on our future ambitions for resettling people.

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean (Lab)]

My Lords—

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

I will certainly confirm in writing if that is the case, because we do not want people who are ineligible to practise. We have had examples of that.

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean]

Will the noble Baroness be kind enough, after Oral Questions, to revisit the answer she gave a moment or two ago about the health service being “propped up” by immigrant labour? We rely on many immigrant doctors. Many of us have had experience of relying on those immigrant doctors in this country. It was an unfortunate term to use, considering the shortages, the waiting lists and those people—we all know someone—who have waited a very long time. She should reconsider her answer.

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

Noble Lords will know that, in using that word, I did not mean it to be in any way derogatory; nor is it a derogatory term.

Windrush

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Wednesday 12th September 2018 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

The noble Lord makes a point that he has made before, and it is a very good one. Certainly, the review being carried out by Wendy Williams will teach us some lessons for the future to ensure that this never happens again. In addition, as I think I mentioned the other day, this issue makes clear the importance now of identity assurance.

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean (Lab)]

My Lords, if the Minister is so committed to getting this out in the open, why will the version of the report that is to be published be redacted?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, I cannot second-guess the thinking behind some of the decision-making, but it might be to protect some people’s names. However, as I have just said, the Prime Minister has committed to publication, whether in a redacted form or not.

Caste Discrimination

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Wednesday 15th July 2015 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

I duly note that.

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean (Lab)]

My Lords, will the Minister please write to my noble friend who raised the question of the periodic review and let him, and indeed others who are interested, know when it will take place?

Asylum Seekers: Uganda

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Wednesday 18th June 2014 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

That is an important point. Many of the claims for asylum in the past year have come from countries such as Syria and Eritrea, but we are for ever vigilant about these types of cases and continue to make representations to the Commonwealth and to the offending Governments. Uganda is not the only country involved.

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean (Lab)]

My Lords, in answer to an earlier question the noble Baroness said that the Government do not have statistics on the number of people who claim asylum here on grounds of their sexuality. Given the importance of this issue and the penalties faced by those returning to some of the countries where homosexuality is criminalised—possibly life imprisonment or even the death penalty—should not the Government reconsider this point and keep statistics not only on the number of those who claim asylum on these grounds but, sadly, on the number of those who, having claimed asylum on those grounds, are returned to their countries of origin?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

As I said in an earlier response, this is exactly what the Home Office is seeking to do—to dig down into the information that we have, and to establish where those asylum claims might be coming from and what types of claims they are.