Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the overthrow of President Assad, whether they have plans to return Syrian refugees to Syria.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
When a refugee applies for settlement protection, a safe return review is carried out to determine and confirm that the need for protection is continuing. This applies to nationals of any country, including those from Syria. If there are, for example, significant improvements in country conditions or changes in personal circumstances that mean someone no longer needs protection, they may be expected to return to their country of origin or to apply to stay in the UK under other provisions of the Immigration Rules.
All asylum and human rights claims are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. No one who is found to be at risk of persecution or serious harm will be expected to return to their country of origin if it is unsafe.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to stop begging which is organised by criminal gangs.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
On 10th June, the Government announced its intention to repeal the outdated Vagrancy Act 1824. The Government has been clear that no one should be criminalised simply for having nowhere to live.
We have introduced targeted replacement measures in the Crime and Policing Bill to ensure police have the powers they need to keep communities safe, including a new criminal offence of facilitating begging for gain, an offence which was previously provided for under the 1824 Act.
This is intended to address organised begging, which is often facilitated by criminal gangs, and exploits vulnerable individuals.
This offence makes it unlawful for anyone to organise others to beg, for example, by driving people to places for them to beg. It will allow the police to tackle the organised crime gangs that use this exploitative technique to obtain cash for illicit activity.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 3 June (HL7863), what action has been taken by police and local authorities under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 against exhausts and silencers that have been deliberately modified or not kept in good working order.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office collects and publishes data on fixed penalty notices and other outcomes for motoring offences, including noise offences, as part of its annual ‘Police Powers and Procedures: Roads policing’ statistical release.
In 2023, the latest year for which published data are available, excluding offences that were subsequently cancelled, there were 1,073 noise offences recorded by the police in England and Wales. Of these, 973 resulted in a fixed penalty notice.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 3 June (HL7863), how many times the police have taken action under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 in the past year; and how many stops, fines and arrests have been made as a result of excessive vehicle noise.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office collects and publishes data on fixed penalty notices and other outcomes for motoring offences, including noise offences, as part of its annual ‘Police Powers and Procedures: Roads policing’ statistical release.
In 2023, the latest year for which published data are available, excluding offences that were subsequently cancelled, there were 1,073 noise offences recorded by the police in England and Wales. Of these, 973 resulted in a fixed penalty notice.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to reconsider banning pillion riders on mopeds, scooters and motorbikes, to prevent their use for violent theft.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
The Crime Survey for England and Wales data shows a 74% fall in robbery when comparing the year ending September 2023 with year ending March 2010. This is clearly good news.
We recognise the impact robbery can have on individuals and communities and we are committed to tackling and preventing this crime. We are not considering a ban on pillion riders on mopeds, scooters and motorbikes.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to (1) cap, or (2) curtail, multiple appeals from the same asylum seeker.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
There are no plans to change the rules regulating multiple appeals. An asylum seeker who has already appealed cannot appeal again unless they make further submissions which amount to a fresh claim. There will only be a fresh claim if the further submissions have not previously been considered and, taken together with the previously considered material, created a realistic prospect of success at appeal, even though the asylum claim is being refused. Where this test is not met, the further submissions are rejected and cannot be appealed.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Murray of Blidworth on 9 November (HL2942 and HL2943), what assessment they have made of reports that TLScontact in St Petersburg is no longer offering applicants the option of purchasing the 'Keep My Passport' service pending decisions on family visa applications.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
Added Value Services, including the Keep My Passport service, are currently unavailable in Russia. Where applicants are required to keep their passport in their possession to evidence their right to reside in Russia whilst their Family Migration application is under consideration, they can inform the Visa Application Centre staff who will work with UKVI to consider this. Applicants can choose to withdraw their application should they wish to do so, but will not receive a refund.
Family members of British Nationals in Russia, who need to make an urgent visa application, can contact TLS via the link on their website for support.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking (1) to address expedited UK Family Visa applications, and (2) to provide early right to remain for those applicants.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
Requests to expedite UK Family applications are considered on a case-by-case basis and take a range of factors into consideration.
An applicant applying in the UK to extend a family visa (spouse or partner on a 5-year route to settlement) should get a decision within 8 weeks.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to stop TLScontact retaining applicants' passports for up to eight months whilst UK Family Visa applications are being processed.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
TLS Contact and VFS Global operate the network of overseas Visa Application Centres (VACs) on behalf of UKVI. Whilst the collection of biometric data is outsourced to commercial partners, they have no involvement in visa decision-making, which are made by British Government officials, and are unable to influence a visa decision outcome in any way.
Customers attending a VAC overseas will have their passport retained by the commercial partner whilst a decision is made on their application by the Home Office. Once a decision has been made, the commercial partner will contact the customer to invite them to attend the VAC to collect their passport and decision. Customers have the option of purchasing the ‘Keep my Passport’ service, which allows them to retain their passport whilst a decision on their application is being made.
TLS only oversee biometric appointments and document decision and do not have any involvement in visa decision making. (1) Family members of British Nationals in Russia, who need to make an urgent visa application, can contact TLS via the link on their website for support. There is sufficient appointment availability in (2) other countries to allow customers to attend an appointment elsewhere.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the delays by TLScontact processing UK Family Visas in (1) Russia, and (2) other countries; and what steps they intend to take to address those delays.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
TLS Contact and VFS Global operate the network of overseas Visa Application Centres (VACs) on behalf of UKVI. Whilst the collection of biometric data is outsourced to commercial partners, they have no involvement in visa decision-making, which are made by British Government officials, and are unable to influence a visa decision outcome in any way.
Customers attending a VAC overseas will have their passport retained by the commercial partner whilst a decision is made on their application by the Home Office. Once a decision has been made, the commercial partner will contact the customer to invite them to attend the VAC to collect their passport and decision. Customers have the option of purchasing the ‘Keep my Passport’ service, which allows them to retain their passport whilst a decision on their application is being made.
TLS only oversee biometric appointments and document decision and do not have any involvement in visa decision making. (1) Family members of British Nationals in Russia, who need to make an urgent visa application, can contact TLS via the link on their website for support. There is sufficient appointment availability in (2) other countries to allow customers to attend an appointment elsewhere.