Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 12 November (HL2099), what discussions they have had with other countries to introduce a similar scheme for school visits to the UK.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
To date, we have had no such discussions.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether visiting French school groups will be able to continue using the France-UK school trip travel information form after April 2025; and what discussions they have had with other countries to introduce a similar scheme for school visits to the UK.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
We permit the use of national identity cards for French schoolchildren (aged 18 and under) travelling on organised trips and waive UK visa requirements for their classmates who are visa nationals. Their responsible adults must be in possession of a fully completed and authenticated form listing the participants in the trip. French schools can access the form online from gov.uk. More information and a link to the form can be found at: Visit the UK as part of a French school trip - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
In advance of the ETA scheme opening to applications from European nationals next year, the Government has considered the implications of the scheme on French school groups visiting the UK, and has agreed that children aged 18 and under travelling as part of a French school group will be temporarily exempted from the ETA requirement until a group solution is developed. This will allow EU, EEA and Swiss children to continue to use their identity cards on organised French school trips to the UK.
At the Leaders’ Summit in Paris on 10 March 2023, as part of an overall agreement on migration reached with France, the UK committed to ease the travel of school groups to the UK by making changes to documentary requirements for school children on organised trips from France.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 12 August (HL502), whether they have set a date for the Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme roll out to EU nationals; and whether they have informed port operators about this timetable.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
No date has yet been set for the further rollout of the Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme, including to European nationals. We expect to make an announcement very shortly and will work with ports and carriers on coordinated communications to those affected.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the electronic travel authorisation requirement will be introduced for (1) EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, and (2) citizens of the rest of the world.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office has engaged regularly with the European Union, the Government of France, Eurostar, Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover about the introduction of both the European Union (EU) Entry/Exit System (EES) and the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
We currently expect the EU to implement EES in November. Further details will be announced shortly about the remainder of the ETA roll out, including when the scheme will apply to EU nationals. We are working with ports and carriers on coordinated communications to the travelling public.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Hanson of Flint on 29 July (HLWS29), what discussions they have had with the EU and the government of France about the rollout of the electronic travel authorisation requirement for EU citizens; and what steps they are taking to prepare the public for upcoming changes to travel rules between the UK and the Schengen Area.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office has engaged regularly with the European Union, the Government of France, Eurostar, Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover about the introduction of both the European Union (EU) Entry/Exit System (EES) and the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
We currently expect the EU to implement EES in November. Further details will be announced shortly about the remainder of the ETA roll out, including when the scheme will apply to EU nationals. We are working with ports and carriers on coordinated communications to the travelling public.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Eurostar and the operators of Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover about the timing of the expected introduction of the EU’s entry/exit system and the rollout of the UK’s electronic travel authorisation for EU citizens.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office has engaged regularly with the European Union, the Government of France, Eurostar, Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover about the introduction of both the European Union (EU) Entry/Exit System (EES) and the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
We currently expect the EU to implement EES in November. Further details will be announced shortly about the remainder of the ETA roll out, including when the scheme will apply to EU nationals. We are working with ports and carriers on coordinated communications to the travelling public.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to review the use of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 for cases involving crime associated with gambling-related harms.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
We have no plans to review the use of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 for cases involving crime associated with gambling-related harms.
The Gambling Commission will continue to advise on the practical application of primary and secondary legislation to prevent gambling harm, and will continue to work with the Home Office and the rest of government to implement the Economic Crime Plan, the National Strategic Assessment and the Suspicious Activity Reports Transformation programme.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the recommendations in the report by the Commission on Crime and Gambling Related Harms Police awareness and practice regarding gambling related harms, published in June, what steps they will take to ensure police officers are able to identify crimes and harms beyond traditional high-level fraud and theft.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has acknowledged the importance for police and others to be able to recognise the signs early when dealing with somebody with a gambling addiction who is going through criminal justice process so that the best support is offered.
The NPCC is currently gathering best practice from forces on early screening of gambling addicts, ensuring the right offer of support is in place, and signposting where people can seek further help.
The Government will continue to work closely with them to understand and consider their findings.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report from the Commission on Crime and Gambling Related Harms Police awareness and practice regarding gambling related harms, published in June; and in particular, the finding that there is a lack of awareness among police forces about the links between crime and gambling harms.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has acknowledged the importance for police and others to be able to recognise the signs early when dealing with somebody with a gambling addiction who is going through the criminal justice process, to ensure the best support is offered. Policing is collaborating with both the public and private sectors to improve the understanding of officers and staff of the signs to look out for.
In September 2021, a Level 2 Ofqual course, funded by the Gambling Commission, was developed and launched in collaboration with a number of experts from Gambling Health Alliance, Beacon Gambling Trust, Unite the Union and Addiction Recovery Agency. This course provides better knowledge for those working in the criminal justice system as well as those within the gambling industry, on understanding and spotting early signs of gambling addictions. This course is the first step in improving the understanding of those working within the criminal justice system, who will come across addicts in their role, using a First Aid approach to addressing and supporting those experiencing gambling-related harms.
The NPCC is currently gathering best practice from police forces on early screening of gambling addicts, ensuring the right offer of support is in place, and signposting where people can seek further help. The Government will continue to work closely with them to understand their findings and consider next steps.
Asked by: Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the recording of fires caused by electrical appliance purchased online.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Home Office collect the number of fires caused by electrical appliances however we do not collect information on where items that were responsible for fire ignition were bought or acquired.