Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the appropriate length of time before an asylum claim can be deemed inadmissible, given that current Home Office caseworker guidance states that “the inadmissibility process must not create a lengthy ‘limbo’ position, where a pending decision or delays in removal after a decision mean that a claimant cannot advance their asylum claim either in the UK or in a safe third country".

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The safe third country inadmissibility process does not specify a specific timescale for an inadmissibility decision to be made. The process provides flexibility to ensure that the relevant information can be gathered by Home Office staff to make the appropriate decision. We consider it is right that officials have a reasonable opportunity to carefully examine the evidence in a case to determine whether inadmissibility action is appropriate. Where it is considered appropriate that they also have the opportunity to approach relevant third countries and enter into discussions about the person’s removal before a decision is made.

Where a claimant is under consideration of the inadmissibility policy, they are issued a Notice of Intent informing them their claim is being considered under this policy, and providing them with an opportunity to put forward any reasons why their claim should not be declared inadmissible. ––If they are detained, they have 7 days, if they are non-detained, they have 14 days, and additional time can be requested if necessary.

The inadmissibility policy sets out that the process must not create a lengthy ‘limbo’ position, where a pending decision or delays in removal after a decision mean that a claimant cannot advance their asylum claim either in the UK or in a safe third country. If, taking into account all the circumstances, it is not possible to make an inadmissibility decision or effect removal following an inadmissibility decision within a reasonable period, inadmissibility action must be discontinued, and the person’s claim must be admitted to the asylum process for substantive consideration.

As a general guideline, it is expected that in most cases, a safe third country will agree to admit a person within 6 months of the claim being recorded, enabling removal soon after, subject to concluding legal challenges or other removal barriers. Therefore, we consider that there are adequate safeguards build into the policy to ensure that a claimant is not left in limbo.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what financial assistance and support they have provided to Military Court Watch since its establishment.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to encourage sustainable packaging for all medication distributed by the NHS, including sustainable alternatives to plastic blister packs for pills.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England is working collaboratively with a range of partners including the Department, the pharmaceutical industry, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and others to support achievement of net zero ambitions for the National Health Service, as summarised in the Delivering a net zero NHS report published in October 2020. Action on packaging, alongside a wide range of other activities, will support achievement of these ambitions, often also improving efficiency and reducing cost.

NHS England is supporting specific initiatives such as Circularity in Primary Pharmaceutical Packaging, a not-for-profit collaborative which aims, amongst other ambitions, to improve the circularity of blister packs. The MHRA provides regulatory and scientific advice to companies improving the environmental sustainability of their products, and can assist with changes to packaging materials.

Patient safety will always be our primary objective, with increased environmental sustainability in pharmaceutical packaging playing an important part in mitigating the long-term impacts of climate change on our patients.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to appoint an Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration; and in what timeframe.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The process to recruit a new Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration follows the principles set out within the Cabinet Office Governance Code on Public Appointments:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65c4f9a19c5b7f0012951b7a/governance_code_on_public_appointments.pdf

The competition opened on 21 February, and the closing date for applications was 2 April 2024. Our intention is to make the appointment as soon as possible, and an indicative timetable is available on the Public Appointments website:

Role details – Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration – Apply for a public appointment – GOV.UK (apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many times the Asylum Lived Experience Advisory Panel met in (1) 2024, (2) 2023, and (3) 2022.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Asylum Lived Experience Advisory Panel (ALEAP) was established in February 2023. The panel has met at least quarterly since this date.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the human rights implications of the government of Israel’s practice of administrative detention.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

We continue to be alarmed about reports of ill-treatment of Palestinian detainees in military detention. We have been clear that Israel must fulfil its responsibilities under International Humanitarian Law, most recently during the Foreign Secretary's call with Foreign Minister Katz on 13 May.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding the release of Layan Nasir, a young Palestinian Christian woman, from administrative detention following her arrest on 6 April.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

We continue to be alarmed about reports of ill-treatment of Palestinian detainees in military detention. We have been clear that Israel must fulfil its responsibilities under International Humanitarian Law, most recently during the Foreign Secretary's call with Foreign Minister Katz on 13 May.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government in which immigration removal centres the additional 2,200 detention spaces referred to in their press release of 1 May are located.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office currently operates seven immigration removal centres (IRCs) throughout the UK (six in England and one in Scotland); Harmondsworth and Colnbrook IRCs at Heathrow; Brook House and Tinsley House IRCs at Gatwick; Derwentside IRC in County Durham; Yarl’s Wood IRC in Bedfordshire and Dungavel House IRC in South Lanarkshire, Scotland.

As of 24 April, the Home Office has the capacity to detain around 2,200 people in IRCs, including those liable for removal to Rwanda.

Individuals who were previously present in a safe third country and entered the UK by a dangerous and unnecessary method are liable to be relocated to Rwanda. As this is an ongoing operational matter it would be inappropriate to provide a running commentary on individual cases or numbers.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many women are currently being detained for removal to Rwanda.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office currently operates seven immigration removal centres (IRCs) throughout the UK (six in England and one in Scotland); Harmondsworth and Colnbrook IRCs at Heathrow; Brook House and Tinsley House IRCs at Gatwick; Derwentside IRC in County Durham; Yarl’s Wood IRC in Bedfordshire and Dungavel House IRC in South Lanarkshire, Scotland.

As of 24 April, the Home Office has the capacity to detain around 2,200 people in IRCs, including those liable for removal to Rwanda.

Individuals who were previously present in a safe third country and entered the UK by a dangerous and unnecessary method are liable to be relocated to Rwanda. As this is an ongoing operational matter it would be inappropriate to provide a running commentary on individual cases or numbers.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether beginning the 28-day move-on period for a person with newly granted refugee status from the issuing of a biometric residence permit will be regularly reviewed as government policy.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Currently, the 28 day period begins from when a Biometric Residence Permit is issued. The longer-term position is under consideration.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they anticipate that the conditions stipulated by the special development order for the former RAF Wethersfield site will be met; and whether a work plan for the required improvements will be published.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Wethersfield is safe for asylum seekers, and we are working at pace to ensure we abide by the conditions in the Special Development Order.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the Action Plan to Prevent and Counter the Smuggling of Migrants agreed by the G7 and published on 21 October, what plans they have to work with international partners to develop more accessible legal routes for migration.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The United Kingdom has a long history of providing sanctuary to those who need it. This country will always work alongside others to help those fleeing war and persecution and we value the importance of working with international partners to address the challenges of irregular migration.

Alongside tackling the criminal people smuggling gangs and fixing our asylum system, we are focused on supporting the relocation of those who have been identified as eligible for resettlement under our resettlement schemes and fixing the gaps in existing routes. That is why we have affirmed our ongoing commitment to the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS); supported the reunification of Afghan families under the ACRS route; provided sanctuary for Ukrainians under our Ukraine schemes; and provided routes for Hong Kongers under our Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many asylum liaison officers are currently in post in the Home Office, and whether there are any plans for further recruitment to support newly recognised refugees through the move-on process.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office is working to make sure individuals have the support they need to integrate and work following a positive asylum decision and to help local authorities better plan their assistance to those individuals.

Support for newly recognised refugees is available through Migrant Help and their partners, which includes advice on how to work and support themselves with housing.

A new team of Asylum Move On Liaison Officers (AMLOs) is being operationalised to work with individuals at the start of the Move On process alongside Migrant Help to ensure a successful Move On. A virtual AMLO support team will be created to provide data and support to local authorities. The teams will work nationally when they are fully set up.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many individuals have been identified as eligible for resettlement schemes and have authorisation to travel to the UK, but who currently reside in Lebanon and are awaiting travel confirmation.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

Work continues at pace to resettle eligible individuals under UKRS from Lebanon. The number of individuals and families resettled is a changing picture due to the operational nature of the scheme, making it difficult to release numbers of eligible individuals due for resettlement at this time. Statistics on the number resettled will be recorded and reported in the relevant quarterly immigration data sets.

It can be confirmed that the UK Government is working as quickly as possible to bring those families who have been accepted onto the UK Resettlement Scheme to the UK by securing seats on flights where they become available.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans with the UN Refugee Agency to expedite the travel of those eligible for UK resettlement who currently reside in Lebanon.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

Work continues at pace to resettle eligible individuals under UKRS from Lebanon. The number of individuals and families resettled is a changing picture due to the operational nature of the scheme, making it difficult to release numbers of eligible individuals due for resettlement at this time. Statistics on the number resettled will be recorded and reported in the relevant quarterly immigration data sets.

It can be confirmed that the UK Government is working as quickly as possible to bring those families who have been accepted onto the UK Resettlement Scheme to the UK by securing seats on flights where they become available.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether an impact assessment has been undertaken of the proposed changes to the Office of the Immigration Service Commissioner’s fee structure, including the impact on charitable immigration advice services.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office together with the Office of the Immigration Service Commissioner (OISC) ran the fees consultation for a period of 12 weeks, which closed on 5 June 2024. The consultation was designed to help best understand the impact of proposals to amend the structure of the fees charged by the OISC to its registered advisers, and to minimise the risks of any adverse impact. The findings from the consultation are currently under review.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Hanson of Flint on 14 October (HL Deb cols 17GC–20GC), when they intend to publish the terms of reference for the Home Office review into immigration detention, including Rule 34 and 35 of the detention centre rules.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Adults at Risk review should be completed by Spring 2025. It is a wholesale review of the Adults at Risk policy, including Rule 34 and Rule 35 of the detention centre rules. To ensure the review is not constrained, there are no formal terms of reference.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Hanson of Flint on 14 October (HL Deb cols 17GC–20GC), whether the review into immigration detention will consider the recommendations of the Brook House Inquiry and reassess which of its recommendations to accept.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Adults at Risk review forms part of the response to one of the recommendations of the Brook House Inquiry (Recommendation 9: Review of the operation of Rule 35 of the Detention Centre Rules 2001). However, it will not cover all areas of the Brook House Inquiry and will not reassess the recommendations made.

Found: supported by Lord Carter of Haslemere, Baroness Campbell of Surbiton, Baroness Hussein-Ece, the Lord Bishop of Chelmsford