Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Independent Commission for Aid Impact’s 2022 report on UK aid’s results in education, and their official response to that report, what progress they have made in reforming and improving their capacity to assess the impact of their basic education programmes on improving foundational learning outcomes for children in partner countries.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The 2022 Independent Commission for Aid Impact report recommended FCDO accelerate work with partner governments to improve its ability to collect and use reliable data on children's learning. As a result, we developed a new Data for Foundational Learning programme, of up to £27 million (2023 - 2027), to strengthen the data on children's learning in low- and middle-income countries. This programme started implementation in March 2023. Through the Global Coalition for Foundational Learning, we are promoting a shared commitment to foundational learning for all. Additionally, we are improving our internal results framework to better measure impact on improving learning.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the development of free, quality, public education systems in the developing world, particularly in areas where state provision is weak or non-existent.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
We have bilateral education programmes in 19 countries. FCDO projects work closely with governments where state provision is weak, using UK-led research on what works to influence policy on how to reach the most marginalised, particularly girls. The Girls' Education Challenge programme has supported over 1.5 million children to receive education since 2012. We are the largest donor to the Global Partnership for Education which works with governments, including in fragile and conflict affected countries, to strengthen government education systems. In February, we announced a new pledge of £80 million to Education Cannot Wait, the global fund for education in emergencies.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to support vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers, including those who are children and those with mental health needs, following the announcement on 29 March of plans to use former military bases to house refugees and asylum seekers.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The Home Office are engaged with a number of Local Authorities and key stakeholders on sourcing appropriate accommodation for asylum seekers including those announced on 29th March 2023. We are committed to engaging with local authorities and local partners to support successful delivery.
For any large sites the Home Office are exploring use, Multi-Agency Forums are being held with the Local Authority and other key stakeholders before implementation. Any concerns relating to the Local Authority’s ability to meet statutory requirements can be raised and discussed in that forum. We are committed to continuous engagement with local authorities and local partners to understand and mitigate identified risks, including impact on local services.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how the quality of accommodation for housing refugees and asylum seekers will be monitored, following the announcement on 29 March of plans to use former military bases to house refugees and asylum seekers.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The Home Office are engaged with a number of Local Authorities and key stakeholders on sourcing appropriate accommodation for asylum seekers including those announced on 29th March 2023. We are committed to engaging with local authorities and local partners to support successful delivery.
For any large sites the Home Office are exploring use, Multi-Agency Forums are being held with the Local Authority and other key stakeholders before implementation. Any concerns relating to the Local Authority’s ability to meet statutory requirements can be raised and discussed in that forum. We are committed to continuous engagement with local authorities and local partners to understand and mitigate identified risks, including impact on local services.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with local councils regarding their plans to house refugees and asylum seekers at former military bases announced on 29 March
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The Home Office are engaged with a number of Local Authorities and key stakeholders on sourcing appropriate accommodation for asylum seekers including those announced on 29th March 2023. We are committed to engaging with local authorities and local partners to support successful delivery.
For any large sites the Home Office are exploring use, Multi-Agency Forums are being held with the Local Authority and other key stakeholders before implementation. Any concerns relating to the Local Authority’s ability to meet statutory requirements can be raised and discussed in that forum. We are committed to continuous engagement with local authorities and local partners to understand and mitigate identified risks, including impact on local services.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Murray of Blidworth on 22 March (HL6242), how many of those 30,055 people resettled in the UK through UNHCR routes were resettled since 2015.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
Between 2015 and 2022, 28,302 people have been resettled to the UK through UNHCR resettlement routes. The UK ranks 2nd highest of European countries over this period.
Between 2015 and 2022, people were offered safe and legal routes into the UK via BN(O) Hong Kong Visas (153,708 visas granted), Ukraine Visa and Extension Schemes (233,770 visas granted), family reunion visas (44,659 visas granted) and established resettlement or relocation schemes (49,667 people).
Of the 49,667 people resettled or relocated over this period, 28,302 were through UNHCR resettlement routes and 21,365 were through non-UNHCR routes (i.e. Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme Pathway 1 and Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy).
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what quotas they place on the numbers of persons to be resettled on the recommendation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The UK does not set a quota on the overall number of persons to be resettled on the recommendation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what criteria they apply when considering applications for resettlement from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is uniquely placed to help identify and refer the most vulnerable individuals for resettlement in accordance with their standard resettlement submission categories. These are based on people’s needs and vulnerabilities
We do not seek to intervene in or influence UNHCR’s selection processes.
The seven resettlement submission categories used by UNHCR are set out here:
https://www.unhcr.org/46f7c0ee2.pdf
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many persons identified by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as needing resettlement in the UK have been so resettled in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
Between 2013 and 2022, 30,055 people have been resettled to the UK through UNHCR resettlement routes. The UK ranks 3rd highest of European countries over this period.
Between 2013 and 2022, people were offered safe and legal routes into the UK via the following:
- 153,708 BN(O) Hong Kong Visas
- 233,770 visas granted under Ukraine Visa and Extension Schemes
- 53,230 family reunion visas
- 51,420 resettled or relocated. 30,055 resettled through UNHCR resettlement routes and 21,365 through non-UNHCR routes (i.e. Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme Pathway 1 and Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy).
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sharpe of Epsom on 25 January (HL4660), what are the names of the 10 police forces who do not conduct a post Online Assessment Process face-to-face interview.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
In the response to the question tabled on 12 January, it was stated that there were 10 forces that did not hold a post Online Assessment Process interview as part of the police recruitment process. Further information provided by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing shows that this figure is nine – one force had incorrectly stated it did not complete an interview.
According to information provided by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing these nine forces are Avon & Somerset, City of London, Dorset, Hampshire, Humberside, Norfolk, Suffolk, West Midlands and Wiltshire. These forces engage with all candidates face-to-face as part of the recruitment process. Six forces (Avon & Somerset, City of London, Dorset, Humberside, Norfolk and Suffolk) routinely require applicants to attend a face-to-face meeting through familiarisation events or similar; the remaining three have face-to-face engagement at other stages in the recruitment process, such as during the medical and fitness assessments.
Following engagement with the Home Office, the College of Policing will write to Chief Constables in early February with updated guidance on post assessment interviews that will strengthen the requirement for forces to use the College of Policing’s standard post Online Assessment Process interview process, as part of the police recruitment process.