Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by HonestReporting Help Combat Hamas Terrorism, published on 2 February; and what assessment they have made of the warning within the report by Lloyd's of London against its members doing business with Hamas.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The UK has a robust legislative framework which criminalises the financing of terrorism in all its forms. The Government regularly meets with the banking sector, regulators and non-profit organisations to identify, assess and understand the risk of terrorist financing and collaborate to respond to the risks that are identified, including producing appropriate guidance and best practice on risk mitigation measures.
The Home Secretary extended the proscription of Hamas to cover the organisation in its entirety in November 2021. The extension makes all of Hamas’ assets ‘terrorist property’, it also makes it illegal for people to be members or supporters of Hamas, with a maximum sentence of up to 14 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine. Hamas is also subject to an asset freeze under the Counter-Terrorism (International Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
The investigation and prosecution of offences is a matter for the police and Crown Prosecution Service. It would be inappropriate for the Government to comment further on such matters
Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how EEA nationals with settled or pre-settled status will be covered by the Right to Rent scheme checks after 30 June; and what the position will be for EEA nationals who are (1) tenants, or (2) prospective tenants, but fail to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme by 30 June.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
EEA citizens with settled or pre-settled status granted through the EU Settlement Scheme will evidence their right to rent digitally using the Home Office online service on GOV.UK, ‘prove your right to rent in England’.
https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-rent
Where the landlord has carried out checks, in the prescribed manner, on or before 30 June, there is no requirement to carry out retrospective checks or evict a tenant, as they have a continuous statutory excuse against liability for a civil penalty.
Where an EEA citizen has reasonable grounds for missing the EUSS application deadline, they will be given an opportunity to make a late application. Any EEA citizen encountered by Immigration Enforcement after 30 June 2021, who may be eligible to apply to the EUSS, will be issued with a notice which provides a further 28 days for the individual to submit their application.
Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what reasons have been identified for unsuccessful applications for the EU Settlement Scheme from people over 65 living in Scotland; under what circumstances late applications will be permitted; what exceptional circumstances will be permitted; and how mitigation for (1) illness, and (2) disability, will be taken into account.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The latest published information to the end of December 2020 shows 3,670 people over the age of 65, resident in Scotland, were granted settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) and a further 1,080 were granted pre-settled status, representing 98.5% of applications concluded for over 65s resident in Scotland. 20 applications were refused on eligibility or suitability grounds, 40 were withdrawn or void and less than 10 were invalid.
The latest figures can be found in table EUSS_04 on the Home Office’s ‘EU Settlement Scheme statistics’ web page available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/eu-settlement-scheme-quarterly-statistics-december-2020
The published figures for the EUSS refer specifically to applications made to the scheme and cannot be directly compared with Office for National Statistics estimates of the resident population of EU/EEA nationals in the UK. The published EUSS figures include non-EEA national family members, Irish nationals and eligible EEA citizens not resident in the UK, none of whom are usually included in ONS estimates of the resident EU/EEA national population.
Furthermore, the population estimates do not take account of people’s migration intentions and will include people who have come to the UK for a range of purposes, including some who have no intention to settle in the UK.
On 1 April 2021, the Home Office published non-exhaustive guidance on what constitutes reasonable grounds for missing the 30 June 2021 deadline for applications to the EUSS by those EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, and their family members, resident in the UK by the end of the transition period. This will underpin a flexible and pragmatic approach to considering late applications under the scheme, including in light of illness and disability issues.
The guidance can be found in ‘Making an application: deadline’ in ‘EU Settlement Scheme: EU, other EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members’ at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-settlement-scheme-caseworker-guidance
Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many non-Irish EU citizens over the age of 65 living in Scotland they estimate have not applied for the EU Settlement Scheme.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The latest published information to the end of December 2020 shows 3,670 people over the age of 65, resident in Scotland, were granted settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) and a further 1,080 were granted pre-settled status, representing 98.5% of applications concluded for over 65s resident in Scotland. 20 applications were refused on eligibility or suitability grounds, 40 were withdrawn or void and less than 10 were invalid.
The latest figures can be found in table EUSS_04 on the Home Office’s ‘EU Settlement Scheme statistics’ web page available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/eu-settlement-scheme-quarterly-statistics-december-2020
The published figures for the EUSS refer specifically to applications made to the scheme and cannot be directly compared with Office for National Statistics estimates of the resident population of EU/EEA nationals in the UK. The published EUSS figures include non-EEA national family members, Irish nationals and eligible EEA citizens not resident in the UK, none of whom are usually included in ONS estimates of the resident EU/EEA national population.
Furthermore, the population estimates do not take account of people’s migration intentions and will include people who have come to the UK for a range of purposes, including some who have no intention to settle in the UK.
On 1 April 2021, the Home Office published non-exhaustive guidance on what constitutes reasonable grounds for missing the 30 June 2021 deadline for applications to the EUSS by those EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, and their family members, resident in the UK by the end of the transition period. This will underpin a flexible and pragmatic approach to considering late applications under the scheme, including in light of illness and disability issues.
The guidance can be found in ‘Making an application: deadline’ in ‘EU Settlement Scheme: EU, other EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members’ at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-settlement-scheme-caseworker-guidance
Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many applications to the EU Settlement Scheme from people both over the age of 65 and living in Scotland have been successful.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The latest published information to the end of December 2020 shows 3,670 people over the age of 65, resident in Scotland, were granted settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) and a further 1,080 were granted pre-settled status, representing 98.5% of applications concluded for over 65s resident in Scotland. 20 applications were refused on eligibility or suitability grounds, 40 were withdrawn or void and less than 10 were invalid.
The latest figures can be found in table EUSS_04 on the Home Office’s ‘EU Settlement Scheme statistics’ web page available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/eu-settlement-scheme-quarterly-statistics-december-2020
The published figures for the EUSS refer specifically to applications made to the scheme and cannot be directly compared with Office for National Statistics estimates of the resident population of EU/EEA nationals in the UK. The published EUSS figures include non-EEA national family members, Irish nationals and eligible EEA citizens not resident in the UK, none of whom are usually included in ONS estimates of the resident EU/EEA national population.
Furthermore, the population estimates do not take account of people’s migration intentions and will include people who have come to the UK for a range of purposes, including some who have no intention to settle in the UK.
On 1 April 2021, the Home Office published non-exhaustive guidance on what constitutes reasonable grounds for missing the 30 June 2021 deadline for applications to the EUSS by those EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, and their family members, resident in the UK by the end of the transition period. This will underpin a flexible and pragmatic approach to considering late applications under the scheme, including in light of illness and disability issues.
The guidance can be found in ‘Making an application: deadline’ in ‘EU Settlement Scheme: EU, other EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members’ at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-settlement-scheme-caseworker-guidance
Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to introduce legislation to strengthen their ability to deal with (1) espionage, and (2) illegal behaviour, in the UK by (a) the government of Russia, and (b) people associated with that government.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
In the Queen’s Speech we committed to introduce legislation to provide the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to disrupt hostile activity by foreign states. The Home Office is considering several measures for introduction via new primary legislation to make the UK a harder environment for adversaries to operate in.
Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which functions of the immigration department of the Home Office are carried out by private contractors; and in each case, who are those contractors.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Details of the immigration department’s contracts with private contractors are included in the table below:
UK Immigration Enforcement | ||
Service Name | Service Description | Contractor Name |
Immigration Removal Centre | Contract for the provision of operation, management and maintenance of the Colnbrook and Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centres. | Mitie Care and Custody |
Immigration Removal Centre | Contract for the provision of operation, management and maintenance of the Brook House Immigration Removal Centre. | G4S |
Immigration Removal Centre | Contract for the provision of operation, management and maintenance of the Tinsley House Immigration Removal Centre. | G4S |
Immigration Removal Centre | Contract for the provision of operation, management and maintenance of the Yarl's wood Immigration Removal Centre. | Serco |
Immigration Removal Centre | Contract for the provision of operation, management and maintenance of the Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre. | Mitie Care and Custody |
Immigration Removal Centre | Contract for the provision of operation, management and maintenance of the Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre. | GEO |
Pre-Departure Accommodation Welfare Services | Contract for the provision of Pre-Departure Accommodation Welfare Services Welfare | G4S |
Escorting Services | Contract for the provision of In-country and Overseas Escorting, operation and management of Short Term Holding Facilities and Holding Rooms and related services | Mitie Care and Custody |
Travel Services | Services Agreement for the provision of Travel Services for immigration purposes. | Carlson Wagonlit UK Ltd |
UK Visas and Immigration | ||
Service Name | Service Description | Contractor Name |
COMPASS London & South | Asylum Accommodation, Transport and Support Services | Clearsprings Ready Homes |
COMPASS South West & Wales | Asylum Accommodation, Transport and Support Services | Clearsprings Ready Homes |
COMPASS Midlands & East of England | Asylum Accommodation, Transport and Support Services | G4S |
COMPASS North East, Yorkshire & Humber | Asylum Accommodation, Transport and Support Services | G4S |
COMPASS North West | Asylum Accommodation, Transport and Support Services | Serco |
COMPASS Scotland & Northern Ireland | Asylum Accommodation, Transport and Support Services | Serco |
Life in the UK Test | Administration of Life in the UK Test | PSI Services UK Ltd |
Secure English Language Test | Conduct secure English language testing services | Trinity College IELTS Consortium |
Digital Assisting | Assisted digital service for customers | We Are Digital |
Education assessment | Assessment of educational evidence from customers | Ecctis Ltd |
Next generation of Visas | Provision of international visa application centres | Teleperformance VF Worldwide |
Biometric data capture in UK | Biometric data capture in UK | Post Office Sopra Steria |
Logistics of biometric residency permit cards | Logistics of biometric residency permit cards | Post Office DX Secure |
Financial Check | Financial check | Experian Indesser |
Contact centre | Contact Service centre for customers | Sitel |
Asylum Childcare | Childcare services for asylum seeker interviews in Glasgow | Little Stars Nursery |
Asylum Childcare | Childcare services for asylum seeker interviews in Newcastle | Heaton Community Centre |
Asylum Childcare | Childcare services for asylum seeker interviews in Liverpool | Bizz Kids |
Asylum Childcare | Childcare services for asylum seeker interviews in Solihull | Mobile Creche Company Ltd |
Asylum Childcare | Childcare services for asylum seeker interviews in Cardiff | South Riverside Community Development Centre Ltd |
Asylum Childcare | Childcare services for asylum seeker interviews in Croydon | Pre-School Learning Alliance |
Asylum Support Payments | Payment of support to eligible applicants | Sodexo Motivation Solutions Ltd |
Language Analysis | Analysis of language for asylum applicants | Verified AB |
Language Analysis | Analysis of language for asylum applicants | Skandinnavisk SprakanalysAB (Sprakab) |
Consolidated Asylum Support Application Service (CASAS) | Assistance for asylum applicants for the completion of their initial application | Migrant Helpline Ltd |
Adult Victims of Modern Slavery | Adult victims of modern slavery care and co-ordination services | The Salvation Army |
Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the contractual entitlement of Dame Lowell Goddard for the provision of accommodation in London in return for chairing the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse; what property was acquired or leased for her; and what is the continuing cost of any contract or lease entered into.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Details of Dame Lowell Goddard’s entitlements while she was the Chair of the Independent Inquiry are given in her terms of appointment which are published on the Inquiry’s website at https://www.iicsa.org.uk/key-documents/94/view/chair%27s-terms-of-appointment.pdf
The Home Office did not acquire or lease any property for Dame Lowell.
Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many children of illegal immigrants have been detained in the United Kingdom in each year since 2010.
Answered by Lord Bates
The Home Office publishes periodic data on the numbers of children entering detention under Immigration Act Powers since 2010. This information is located on the GOV.UK website, accessible via the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/children-entering-detention-under-immigration-act-powers
The Home Office does not routinely record the immigration status of the parents of those children entering detention under Immigration Act Powers. Whilst this information is held on Home Office systems, extracting the information would require an individual inspection of records, which it is considered would incur a disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the recommendations made by Barnardo’s in its report of April 2014 on the treatment of children in the Cedars facility; which, if any, of the recommendations have been acted upon; and what actions have been taken.
Answered by Lord Bates
The Home Office welcomed Barnardo’s report which has been carefully considered. Of the five recommendations, family escort teams have been implemented. Of the remainder, what was recommended is largely current policy already including use of force which is subject to review. We are unable to accept the recommendation not to separate families as there will be occasions when this is unavoidable. Such decisions are scrutinised at senior level and by the Independent Family Returns Panel.