Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to change the current system for French school groups visiting the UK, for which they are permitted to produce other forms of identity in place of a passport.
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.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the implications of the Electronic Travel Authorisation Scheme on school groups visiting the UK from France.
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.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many Home Office staff work at the Wethersfield accommodation site.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
ClearSprings Ready Homes (CRH) operates the Wethersfield site on behalf of the Home Office and is responsible for the safeguarding of those accommodated there.
The site and CRH are overseen by a Home Office assurance team which includes a dedicated safeguarding lead and an on-site senior responsible officer.
CRH delivers asylum accommodation and support services across the South and Wales regions. There are a number of requirements in the Asylum Accommodation and Support contract regarding safeguarding and identifying and responding to specific needs of residents. CRH operates in line with both the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contract Safeguarding Framework and Safeguarding Reporting Protocol.
Along with our accommodation providers, we have robust processes in place to ensure that where someone is at risk, they are referred to the appropriate statutory agencies for the appropriate safeguarding interventions.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether there is a requirement for employees at the Wethersfield accommodation site to be trained in detecting signs of trauma and torture, as well as mental health awareness.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
ClearSprings Ready Homes (CRH) operates the Wethersfield site on behalf of the Home Office and is responsible for the safeguarding of those accommodated there.
The site and CRH are overseen by a Home Office assurance team which includes a dedicated safeguarding lead and an on-site senior responsible officer.
CRH delivers asylum accommodation and support services across the South and Wales regions. There are a number of requirements in the Asylum Accommodation and Support contract regarding safeguarding and identifying and responding to specific needs of residents. CRH operates in line with both the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contract Safeguarding Framework and Safeguarding Reporting Protocol.
Along with our accommodation providers, we have robust processes in place to ensure that where someone is at risk, they are referred to the appropriate statutory agencies for the appropriate safeguarding interventions.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many residents at Wethersfield accommodation site have had their asylum case substantive interview since 1 September; and how many of these cases had a legal representative.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of people in asylum accommodation (including Wethersfield) in table Asy_D09 of the quarterly Immigration System Statistics, and on the number of interviews conducted in table Asy_05(M) of the Migration Transparency Data ‘Immigration and protection’ collection. However, there is no data published on whether individuals in a particular location have had an interview, or whether they had a legal representative.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what type of onsite mental health support is available at Wethersfield asylum accommodation site.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Individuals identified for the site are subject to a suitability assessment.
Each individual’s welfare is regularly checked to identify any concerns which may affect their suitability and to facilitate appropriate referrals and sign posting for support as needed.
The site has on-site primary healthcare delivered by a local healthcare provider Monday to Friday. This is run by healthcare professionals, a doctor and nurses, who offer health assessments and are able to prescribe medication.
There is also a welfare facility with welfare officers available 24/7.
All asylum seekers can contact Migrant Help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year if they need help, advice, or guidance, that includes raising issues relating to safeguarding. From 16 June 2024, Migrant Help have been offering face-to-face appointments to asylum seekers on site across 3 days allowing them to raise any questions that they may have on any matter.
Subject to any individual assessments, the maximum length of stay for individual asylum seekers accommodated on site is 9 months, except where the Secretary of State is unable to find suitable onward dispersed accommodation despite reasonable efforts to do so.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the average stay of individuals at Wethersfield asylum accommodation site.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Individuals identified for the site are subject to a suitability assessment.
Each individual’s welfare is regularly checked to identify any concerns which may affect their suitability and to facilitate appropriate referrals and sign posting for support as needed.
The site has on-site primary healthcare delivered by a local healthcare provider Monday to Friday. This is run by healthcare professionals, a doctor and nurses, who offer health assessments and are able to prescribe medication.
There is also a welfare facility with welfare officers available 24/7.
All asylum seekers can contact Migrant Help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year if they need help, advice, or guidance, that includes raising issues relating to safeguarding. From 16 June 2024, Migrant Help have been offering face-to-face appointments to asylum seekers on site across 3 days allowing them to raise any questions that they may have on any matter.
Subject to any individual assessments, the maximum length of stay for individual asylum seekers accommodated on site is 9 months, except where the Secretary of State is unable to find suitable onward dispersed accommodation despite reasonable efforts to do so.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what methods are available for Ukrainian nationals displaced by war with temporary leave in the UK to bring a spouse or minor children to the UK.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Ukrainian family members, including children, are not prevented from entering the UK. The Homes for Ukraine Scheme remains open to new applicants, their applications must be sponsored by someone who is British, Irish or who has settled status.
Ukrainians who meet the eligibility criteria can also join family members through standard visa or family routes. More information can be found on Gov.uk at: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration.
Our Ukraine schemes are kept under continual review as we look to provide stability both for those we have welcomed to the UK and those who still need our sanctuary.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many people were accommodated at Wethersfield asylum accommodation site on the first of every month from 1 May to date.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Occupancy at the Wethersfield site is currently capped at 580 as part of the Special Development Order. This means that during current operation of the site, the population will not exceed 580.
Once the relevant Special Development Order conditions have been discharged, regular occupancy will be capped at 800.
The number of residents on the site at any one time is likely to vary due to a number of factors, including individuals having moved to onward dispersed accommodation while their claims are being considered.
The site has on-site primary healthcare delivered by a local healthcare provider Monday to Friday. This is run by healthcare professionals, a doctor and nurses, who offer systematic health assessments and are able to prescribe medication.
There is also a welfare facility and an accredited mental health nurse on site.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether a GP is present at Wethersfield asylum accommodation site on five days a week.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Occupancy at the Wethersfield site is currently capped at 580 as part of the Special Development Order. This means that during current operation of the site, the population will not exceed 580.
Once the relevant Special Development Order conditions have been discharged, regular occupancy will be capped at 800.
The number of residents on the site at any one time is likely to vary due to a number of factors, including individuals having moved to onward dispersed accommodation while their claims are being considered.
The site has on-site primary healthcare delivered by a local healthcare provider Monday to Friday. This is run by healthcare professionals, a doctor and nurses, who offer systematic health assessments and are able to prescribe medication.
There is also a welfare facility and an accredited mental health nurse on site.