Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Georgian nationals resident in the UK are subject to government sanctions.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

The Government is not aware of any Georgian nationals resident in the UK who have been designated under UK sanctions.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government why UK nationals returning to the UK are still required to complete Passenger Locator Forms following the removal of all other COVID-19 requirements.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)

To help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and respond effectively to any variants of concern, U.K. health authorities must have the correct contact and travel information for all passengers arriving into the U.K. Consequently, the completion of an accurate Passenger Locator Form (PLF) remains a mandatory requirement for travel.

The current international travel regulations require different measures to be taken dependant on a passenger’s vaccination status. The PLF enables passengers to verify their vaccine status through the form.

The PLF has recently been updated to simplify the form and extend the completion window. As other measures at the border are lifted, health measures remain under regular review and adjusted in line with the latest public health advice. The necessity of the form and its contents is kept under constant review.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by the Home Secretary on 8 March that they have “surged a Home Office team” to help at Calais, why Ukrainian refugees are unable to be processed more rapidly in Calais than at other locations.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)

Prior to the conflict the Home Office had one Visa Application Centre (VAC) based in France, that being the VAC in Paris.

To support people in Northern France who are eligible for the Ukraine Family Scheme, the Home Office has set up a new temporary Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Arras, replacing the interim site in Lille. The Arras VAC is now open. It will only be used for referrals from Border Force of Ukrainians arriving in Calais without visas. Individuals eligible for the Ukraine Family Scheme should not travel to Arras or Northern France, but instead apply online (if they hold a valid passport), or make an appointment to attend their nearest VAC in person which is an easier way of getting the permissions to travel to the UK needed.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take as a shareholder to ensure that NatWest Bank does not close accounts solely on the basis of their customers’ political views.

Answered by Baroness Penn

[1]. https://www.natwestgroup.com/news-and-insights/news-room/press-releases/our-updates/2023/jul/statement-on-review-of-bank-accounts-closure-process.html#:~:text=Customers%20have%20a%20right%20to,this%2C%20wider%20change%20is%20required.

[2]. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/payment-account-contract-termination-and-freedom-of-expression

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect the aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales to be ready for active service.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Shadow Minister (Defence)

The Royal Navy is one of only two navies in the world able to operate 5th generation aircraft from two carriers.

By maintaining two aircraft carriers, the UK has one carrier available at very high readiness for operational deployment, at all times.

Any decision to deploy the carriers will be made in conjunction with our allies and partners and will be based on operational need. This is kept under constant review.

Found: 3rd Report - The conduct of Lord James of Blackheath, Lord Kalms, Lord Willoughby de Broke and Baroness