Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made on the armed forces’ modernisation plans, in particular with regard to investment in new technology and equipment to ensure operational readiness for future conflicts.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Government launched the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) to ensure we have the military capabilities needed to protect the United Kingdom now and in the future. The SDR will consider all aspects of Defence, including opportunities for modernisation, transformation, and greater productivity through the rapid and consistent application of Digital Age technologies. The SDR will review current modernisation plans and make recommendations on where the UK should focus our investment in equipment and technology.

At the same time, we are continuing to deliver modernised equipment and technology for the Armed Forces, as shown by the recent arrival of more F-35 stealth aircraft into UK service, and the launch of the 6th of the Astute class of advanced Hunter-Killer submarines, HMS AGAMEMNON. We also continue to invest in cutting edge science, technology, and innovation shown through the department's core Science and Technology programme and the Innovation Fund.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to assess the long-term economic effects of a range of immigration scenarios.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

This Government has an ongoing programme of work to monitor and evaluate the economic impacts of migration. Statistics, research and analysis published by the Home Office on migration can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-analysis-at-the-home-office

Further analysis on the contributions of immigrants to the UK are produced by the independent Migration Advisory Committee, including as part of their Annual Report (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/migration-advisory-committee-annual-report-2023/migration-advisory-committee-mac-annual-report-2023-accessible) and the by the OBR as part of the Economic and Fiscal outlook (Economic and fiscal outlook – March 2024 - Office for Budget Responsibility (obr.uk))

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government who is eligible to apply for family reunion, and what steps they are taking to ensure that family reunion decisions are humane and effective.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

Our refugee family reunion policy is intended to allow those granted protection status in the UK to sponsor their partner or children to stay with or join them here, provided they formed part of the family unit before the sponsor fled their country of origin to seek protection. We recognise that children over 18 may not be living an independent life and can still be emotionally and financially dependent on their parents. In June 2022, we provided clarity through legislation on the types of scenarios which may justify a grant of leave for children who are over 18 within the rules. We made changes to the Rules and Guidance in June 2022 which now provides for children over 18 to reunite with their parents who have protection status in the UK, in exceptional circumstances.

Appendix CNP (Child Staying with or Joining a Non-Parent Relative) allows for a non-parent relative with protection status in the UK to sponsor a child to stay with or join them, where there are serious and compelling circumstances. This can be in situations where the child has no family other than the non-parent relative that could reasonably be expected to support or care for them.

Refugees can also sponsor adult dependent relatives living overseas within the immigration rules to join them where, due to age, illness, or disability, that person requires long-term personal care that can only be provided by relatives in the UK.

Where an application does not meet the eligibility requirements of the Immigration Rules, decision makers must consider whether there are any exceptional circumstances which would render a refusal a breach of Article 8 of European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Our policy also makes clear that there is discretion to grant visas outside the Immigration Rules, which caters for extended family members where there are compelling compassionate factors.

We will continue to keep all immigration routes under review.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether Brexit has affected immigration from (1) all countries, and (2) EU member states, and what plans they have to address any resulting negative impacts on immigration.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

An Impact Assessment was prepared to accompany the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill 2020 (available here: Impact assessments covering migration policy - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)), which included an assessment of how Brexit might affect immigration volumes.

The Government also has an ongoing programme of work to monitor and evaluate the impacts of Government policies, including Brexit, on immigration. Statistics, research and analysis published by the Home Office on migration can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-analysis-at-the-home-office

All immigration routes are kept under review and any future policy changes will be announced to Parliament in due course.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking (1) to encourage international students to pursue higher education in this country, and (2) to develop post-graduation opportunities for these students.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

The government recognises that international students enrich university campuses, forge lifelong friendships with domestic students and become global ambassadors for the UK, as well as making a significant economic contribution to the higher education sector and the UK.

The UK has four universities in the top 10 globally and 15 in the top 100, and offers international students the opportunity to live and work in the UK on a graduate visa for two to three years after their studies come to an end.

In my right hon. Friend’s, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Written Ministerial Statement on 30 July, it was confirmed that the government has maintained the reduced salary thresholds on the Skilled Worker visa route. Reduced salary thresholds make it easier for employers to recruit new entrants to the labour market, such as international students, post-graduation, on a Skilled Worker visa.

The department fully expects the UK to remain a highly attractive study destination to international students.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking (1) to ensure that the United Kingdom is meeting its international obligations towards asylum seekers and refugees, and (2) to improve the asylum application process.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

All asylum claims are given full and careful consideration so that we do not remove anyone who faces persecution or serious harm on return to their country of origin.

Claims are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

The government is determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, firmly, and fairly including reducing the cost to the taxpayer.

The Home Office continues to invest in a programme of transformation and business improvement initiatives to speed up and simplify decision making, reduce the time spent in the asylum system and decrease the number of people who are awaiting an interview or decision. This will enable us to maximise our capacity and progress cases in a more efficient and cost-effective way.

Across asylum decision making, we are continuing to increase the use of technology to improve screening so more information is captured as early as possible.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking (1) to prevent illegal immigration, and (2) to balance immigration enforcement efforts with the protection of human rights.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

Since entering office we have already launched the Border Security Command, led by Martin Hewitt with up to £75 million in new investment to build capability, taking the fight to criminals in Europe and beyond and directly targeting the criminal gangs behind small boat crossings.

People who require, but do not have, leave to enter or remain in the UK are expected to leave the UK. If they fail to do so, the Home Office will enforce their removal with all the appropriate safeguards in place. We have launched a major returns and enforcement programme to increase these removals. The Home Office only enforces removal when it and the courts conclude that it is safe to do so, with a safe route of return.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve mental health support services for both active duty armed forces personnel and veterans.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to the mental health and wellbeing of our Armed Forces personnel and veterans. The MOD works with stakeholders including the single Services and Defence Medical Services (DMS) to promote mental fitness, resilience and reduce stigma.

For those personnel requiring medical intervention the Defence Medical Services (DMS) provide a responsive, flexible, accessible and comprehensive treatment service. The DMS is reshaping mental health provision to reduce waiting lists, improve timelines for patient recovery and refocus on earlier intervention. This will provide a single point of access for specialist mental health networks allowing quicker access to initial assessment and earlier allocation to the right treatment pathway. DMS is increasing access to resources and online therapy to improve the care offered by GPs.

Several non-medical interventions across Defence complement medical services, including key MOD initiatives such as the Defence Senior Leaders Mental Fitness and Resilience course (SLMFR), HeadFIT and the Annual Mental Fitness Brief (AMFB). Additionally, each of the single Services provide through career mental health and stress management training.

NHS England has several bespoke services and initiatives to meet the needs of our Armed Forces community including Op COURAGE, the Veterans Mental Health, and Wellbeing Service, which provides an integrated mental health care pathway for veterans. Since its inception in April 2017, there have been over 38,500 referrals to Op COURAGE.

There are some veterans who prefer to access mainstream NHS services, for example NHS Talking Therapies. In addition to Op COURAGE services, between 1 April 2020 and 30 June 2024, 63,810 veterans have entered NHS Talking Therapy treatment services.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps the armed forces are taking to enhance their partnerships and collaborations with NATO and other international allies to address shared security challenges in the light of recent geopolitical events.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The UK Armed Forces strengthen partnerships through NATO and with Allies through industrial cooperation, and by training and exercising providing visible security assurance inside and outside of SACEUR’s Area of Responsibility. We support NATO broadening its global outreach to strengthen unity on key issues including support to Ukraine, deterring and defending against malign Russian hybrid activity, and capability collaboration.

We welcome NATO’s deepened cooperation with partners in the Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and the Global South. The attendance of the Indo-Pacific Four Defence Ministers at the Defence Ministerial Meeting was a clear demonstration of the interconnectedness of the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase recruitment and retention in the armed forces.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the noble Lord to the reply I gave to the noble Lord Kempsall on 22 October 2024 in response to Question HL1397.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government how they plan to ensure that sufficient funding is allocated to the Ministry of Defence so that the armed forces are adequately equipped and resourced for current and future missions.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government prioritises our National Security, currently spending more than £50 billion a year on defence.

Departmental expenditure limits for 2025-26 will be set alongside the Budget in October, which will also confirm control totals for 2024-25. A multi-year Spending Review, due to conclude in Spring 2025, will set Departmental expenditure limits for future years.