Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the publication of their rough sleeping statistics on 29 February which showed a 965.91 per cent increase from July to December 2023 in people sleeping rough after leaving asylum support over the previous 85 days, what consideration they have given to extending the move-on period from 28 days to 56 days for refugees leaving asylum support; and what assessment they have made of the impact this extension would have on homelessness.

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

The Second Permanent Secretary and I recently met with the Bishop of London to discuss the Government support available to newly recognised refugees moving on from asylum accommodation.

Following the service of an asylum decision, an individual continues to be an asylum seeker for the purpose of asylum support until the end of the relevant prescribed period set out in legislation. This period is 28 calendar days from when an individual is notified of a decision to accept their asylum claim and grant them leave and we have no plans to extend this period. Whilst our legislative power is clear, we do in practice already extend support beyond this. Our current process means that individuals can remain on asylum support for at least 28 days after they have been issued a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), which means that individuals have longer than 28 days to make arrangements to move on before their asylum support ends. It is important that individuals initiate plans to move on from asylum support as soon as they are served their asylum decision in order to maximise the time they have to make move on arrangements.

We offer move on support to all individuals through Migrant Help or their partner organisation.  This includes providing advice on accessing the labour market, on applying for Universal Credit and signposting to local authorities for assistance with housing.  Individuals do not need to wait for their BRP to make a claim for benefits and are encouraged to do so as early as possible if they require them.

We continue to identify and make efficiencies in supporting newly recognised refugees during the move on period and to mitigate the risk of homelessness. We are fully committed to working with partners in doing this. We have already worked closely with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to ensure the right asylum decision data is being shared with local authorities to enable effective planning and to lessen the impact on existing homelessness and rough sleeping pressures.  We are also utilising Home Office Liaison Officers to replicate part of the Afghan resettlement move on process. We have been working in three local authority areas since December 2023; Glasgow, Brent and Hillingdon. This has now been expanded to Manchester and Liverpool.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to work with the third sector to jointly create a comprehensive and properly funded transition process for people whose asylum support is due to end, to enable information and support around housing and benefits to be given as far in advance as possible.

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

The Second Permanent Secretary and I recently met with the Bishop of London to discuss the Government support available to newly recognised refugees moving on from asylum accommodation.

Following the service of an asylum decision, an individual continues to be an asylum seeker for the purpose of asylum support until the end of the relevant prescribed period set out in legislation. This period is 28 calendar days from when an individual is notified of a decision to accept their asylum claim and grant them leave and we have no plans to extend this period. Whilst our legislative power is clear, we do in practice already extend support beyond this. Our current process means that individuals can remain on asylum support for at least 28 days after they have been issued a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), which means that individuals have longer than 28 days to make arrangements to move on before their asylum support ends. It is important that individuals initiate plans to move on from asylum support as soon as they are served their asylum decision in order to maximise the time they have to make move on arrangements.

We offer move on support to all individuals through Migrant Help or their partner organisation.  This includes providing advice on accessing the labour market, on applying for Universal Credit and signposting to local authorities for assistance with housing.  Individuals do not need to wait for their BRP to make a claim for benefits and are encouraged to do so as early as possible if they require them.

We continue to identify and make efficiencies in supporting newly recognised refugees during the move on period and to mitigate the risk of homelessness. We are fully committed to working with partners in doing this. We have already worked closely with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to ensure the right asylum decision data is being shared with local authorities to enable effective planning and to lessen the impact on existing homelessness and rough sleeping pressures.  We are also utilising Home Office Liaison Officers to replicate part of the Afghan resettlement move on process. We have been working in three local authority areas since December 2023; Glasgow, Brent and Hillingdon. This has now been expanded to Manchester and Liverpool.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of staggering evictions of refugees from Home Office accommodation, particularly where the person is working with their local authority or a third sector organisation, to prevent their homelessness.

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

The Second Permanent Secretary and I recently met with the Bishop of London to discuss the Government support available to newly recognised refugees moving on from asylum accommodation.

Following the service of an asylum decision, an individual continues to be an asylum seeker for the purpose of asylum support until the end of the relevant prescribed period set out in legislation. This period is 28 calendar days from when an individual is notified of a decision to accept their asylum claim and grant them leave and we have no plans to extend this period. Whilst our legislative power is clear, we do in practice already extend support beyond this. Our current process means that individuals can remain on asylum support for at least 28 days after they have been issued a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), which means that individuals have longer than 28 days to make arrangements to move on before their asylum support ends. It is important that individuals initiate plans to move on from asylum support as soon as they are served their asylum decision in order to maximise the time they have to make move on arrangements.

We offer move on support to all individuals through Migrant Help or their partner organisation.  This includes providing advice on accessing the labour market, on applying for Universal Credit and signposting to local authorities for assistance with housing.  Individuals do not need to wait for their BRP to make a claim for benefits and are encouraged to do so as early as possible if they require them.

We continue to identify and make efficiencies in supporting newly recognised refugees during the move on period and to mitigate the risk of homelessness. We are fully committed to working with partners in doing this. We have already worked closely with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to ensure the right asylum decision data is being shared with local authorities to enable effective planning and to lessen the impact on existing homelessness and rough sleeping pressures.  We are also utilising Home Office Liaison Officers to replicate part of the Afghan resettlement move on process. We have been working in three local authority areas since December 2023; Glasgow, Brent and Hillingdon. This has now been expanded to Manchester and Liverpool.

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.

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