Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current immigration rules for skilled workers, and whether they intend to reduce restrictions on access to the UK for those workers.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
As announced by the Prime Minister on 28 November 2024, the Government will be producing a White Paper setting out our plans for reducing net migration, which will be published in due course.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage AI experts to work in the UK, particularly in relation to reducing visa fees.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
In meeting the AI skills commitments under the AI Opportunities Action Plan, the Government has pledged to strengthen and increase opportunities for technical AI expertise in the UK by creating new AI fellowships, scholarships, and Higher Education courses. Fees for immigration and nationality applications are routinely kept under review, taking into account a range of factors and objectives, including the Government's commitments to reduce levels of net migration.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect consumers from rising levels of banking scams, particularly in relation to those involving AI voice cloning.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government takes the issue of fraud very seriously and is dedicated to protecting the public from this devastating crime. The Home Office continues to work with industry partners, including the financial institutions, to prevent fraudsters from targeting consumers with banking and other scams.
The “Stop! Think Fraud” communications campaign helps people spot and avoid fraud and provides fraud prevention and recovery advice. AI has the potential to assist fraudsters in impersonating others and this campaign helps protect the public by raising awareness and helping the public to protect themselves. This Government has also supported initiatives such as agreeing a safe phrase with trusted friends and family to verify their identity.
We are also developing our new, expanded fraud strategy over the coming months. In collaboration with key industry, law enforcement and civil society partners, we will be ensuring that collectively we are doing everything possible to protect the public from fraud.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to review their policy on accepting asylum seekers from Syria in the light of the current safety situation in that country.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office acted swiftly to pause decisions on Syrian asylum claims whilst we assess the current situation.
We keep all country guidance relating to asylum claims under constant review so we can respond to emerging issues.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce illegal immigration.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Since entering office, we have already launched the Border Security Command (BSC), led by Martin Hewitt CBE QPM, to strengthen our approach to prevent illegal migration. The Home Secretary recently announced investment of an additional £75 million for the BSC. This brings investment up until the end of the next financial year up to £150 million. This will help to build capability, taking the fight to criminals in Europe and beyond and directly targeting the criminal gangs behind small boat crossings.
The BSC will provide strategic direction across the relevant agencies and partners, drawing together the work across the border security system. It will also work with international partners to disrupt the activity of criminal smuggling gangs and ensure those profiting from people-smuggling are brought to justice.
As set out in the King’s speech, this government will introduce new legislative measures to restore order to our border.
The proposed new legislation will include provisions to give the border security system stronger powers to disrupt, investigate and prosecute facilitators of organised immigration crime.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to enhance support for cyber crime agencies in combating the misuse of artificial intelligence.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
We are determined to keep the public and businesses safe from the ever-evolving threat of cyber crime, and other online crimes, including where criminals seek to do harm by exploiting artificial intelligence.
HMG will continue to ensure that Law Enforcement have the capabilities they need to tackle the perpetrators of cyber crime, including where perpetrators exploit the use of artificial intelligence, while working closely with international partners and in partnership with the tech industry to build resilience and protect UK public and businesses.
We will continue to ensure we work with partners to understand the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and how that may change, while pursuing cyber criminals, and working with industry to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that companies providing accommodation for asylum seekers are not profiteering from them.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
All Home Office commercial contracts are designed to ensure the best value for taxpayers and the Home Office closely monitors its contractors’ performance, including financial results. All accommodation contracts contain a profit share clause, meaning that any profits above the agreed contractual mark-up are returned to the Home Office.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the increasing number of migrant deaths when attempting to cross the English Channel.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Channel crossing attempts by migrants in small boats have always been lethally dangerous, with the Channel being a very busy shipping lane. The first recorded fatalities occurred in August 2019. Since the start of 2024, there have been 12 fatal incidents involving the deaths of 37 people. Crossings are getting more and more dangerous as time goes on, with the danger and the risk rising as quality of boats deteriorates and more people are crammed on board.
The ‘vessels’ used to make these crossings are not of commercial manufacture. They are poorly constructed, from cheap and flimsy materials, are unseaworthy, underpowered, and lack safety equipment. They founder frequently, and for each fatal incident there are plenty of other near misses where boats have begun to deflate and people have gone in the water.
The criminal gangs who facilitate these crossings have no interest in the welfare of their clients, only in the pursuit of profit. It is for this reason that boats are increasingly seen to be overcrowded, with the most vulnerable packed into the middle of the boat where crushing and other injuries, such as fuel burns, become more likely.
We are working closely with the French to reduce the risk to life from these crossings and with partners across Europe to bring the evil people smuggling gangs to justice.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recommendation of the Migration Advisory Committee, in its Review of the Seasonal Worker Visa, published on 16 July, that the UK food industry should cover the upfront costs faced by migrant farm workers.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is carefully considering the Migration Advisory Committee’s review of the Seasonal Worker route and will announce a detailed response in due course.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to (1) monitor, and (2) evaluate, the long-term impacts of immigration on (a) innovation, (b) productivity, and (c) public finances.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
This Government has an ongoing programme of work to monitor and evaluate the impact of migration, including the impact of the package of net migration reforms implemented in Spring 2024. Statistics, research and analysis published by the Home Office on migration can be found here: Migration analysis at the Home Office - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Economic and fiscal forecasts are made by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility.
With a joined-up approach across government to reform the points-based immigration system, we will ensure that migration to address skills shortages triggers a plan to upskill workers and improve working conditions in the UK.