Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on non-UK (a) artists, (b) sponsors and (c) creatives and the UK border.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
We have had no such recent meetings, but there are already several routes that provide opportunities for artists and creatives to come to the UK. The UK’s domestic rules allow musicians, entertainers, artists, and their technical staff, from non-visa national countries (such as EU/EEA nationals) to perform in the UK for up to 6 months without requiring a visa, as long as they are not receiving payment from a UK source other than prize money or expenses. Musicians, entertainers and artists from visa-national countries are likewise able to perform in the UK via the Standard Visitor route, and/or if performing at a festival detailed on the Permit Free Festivals list.
Additionally, the Creative Worker visa allows a professional artist, model, entertainer or musician (applicable to all nationalities) to carry out activity directly relating to their profession, if they have a Sponsor who is licensed by the Home Office and has assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship to the
individual.
We are committed to continuing to work closely with stakeholders to better understand their needs and challenges within the immigration system. This includes exploring ways to better streamline the processes within existing frameworks, to ensure the UK remains an attractive destination for global creative talent.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on how many (a) students studying at UK universities hold British National (Overseas) visas and (b) such students are from Hong Kong.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department does not hold data on the number of students studying at UK universities who hold British National (Overseas) (BNO) visas, including those from Hong Kong.
The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is responsible for collecting and publishing data on the UK higher education (HE) sector. This data is shared with the department and includes a wide range of information on students coming from overseas to study in UK HE providers. However, information on students’ visa status is not collected and those that are studying in the UK and holding a BNO visa cannot be identified by the department.
Data from HESA shows that there were 17,905 students from Hong Kong studying at UK HE providers for the 2022/23 academic year.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing a reporting system for transnational repression.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)
Where individuals have concerns for their safety, they are advised to contact their local police in the first instance. In the event that a person believes they are subject to an imminent threat, they should call 999.
The National Security Act 2023 strengthens our legal powers to counter foreign interference, and provides the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter, detect, and disrupt modern-day state threats. The police are raising awareness and capabilities of frontline officers and staff across the UK, including their understanding of the threats that foreign powers present and how to respond appropriately to reports from members of the public.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing a service standard timeframe for criminal investigations by her Department into fraud.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
There is no Service Level Agreement for criminal fraud investigations. Each case presents unique complexities, depending on the offence type and individual circumstances. Cases are often operationally challenging due to the complexity of the work required, involving information gathering from external organisations to obtain supporting evidence. Timelines are also affected by the frequent need to capture witness statements and the reliance on customer participation.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training her Department requires call handlers to complete.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
All directorates within DWP receive Telephony learning. This begins with new joiners receiving induction and mandatory learning which covers topics such as communicating effectively, delivering excellent customer service, keeping safe, and how to support those with additional or complex needs.
On completion of the induction learning delegates will complete their technical learning covering the skills and knowledge required for their specific role.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to review training provisions for UK Border Force officers for entry into the UK for non-UK (a) artists, (b) sponsors and (c) creatives.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Border Force officers are trained to the highest of standards to be able to carry out their role to enforce immigration policy at the border.
Throughout that training, officers are continually tested to ensure they have the required skills and knowledge to carry out their role.
Training in relation to collective workers is thoroughly addressed within existing BF Foundation training given to all officers, and delivered across multiple sessions. This includes relevant policies, including the period of access, the Certificate of Sponsorship, and processing procedures associated with creative workers.
To qualify for entry in this category, a passenger has to meet the following criteria:
• have a valid Temporary Work - Creative Worker certificate of sponsorship (CoS)
• are coming to work in the UK for 3 months or less.
• do not normally need a visa to enter the UK as a visitor.
Further information on how individuals can qualify to enter the UK under this category can be found at: Creative Worker visa (Temporary Work): Creative Worker visa concession - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will take steps to improve (a) training and (b) guidance for Border Force officers on temporary admission procedures for entry into the UK for creative workers.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Border Force officers are trained to the highest of standards to be able to carry out their role to enforce immigration policy at the border.
Throughout that training, officers are continually tested to ensure they have the required skills and knowledge to carry out their role.
Training in relation to collective workers is thoroughly addressed within existing BF Foundation training given to all officers, and delivered across multiple sessions. This includes relevant policies, including the period of access, the Certificate of Sponsorship, and processing procedures associated with creative workers.
To qualify for entry in this category, a passenger has to meet the following criteria:
• have a valid Temporary Work - Creative Worker certificate of sponsorship (CoS)
• are coming to work in the UK for 3 months or less.
• do not normally need a visa to enter the UK as a visitor.
Further information on how individuals can qualify to enter the UK under this category can be found at: Creative Worker visa (Temporary Work): Creative Worker visa concession - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to re-establish the Arts and Entertainment Taskforce.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
The Government values the contribution from workers in the creative industries and is committed to ensuring there are immigration routes that work for them. There is an excellent immigration offer for workers within the creative industries and we continually keep our policies under review.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many decision makers in her Department are working on cases of benefits fraud.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
As of the 31st October 2024, Counter Fraud, Compliance and Debt (CFCD) Directorate has the following Full Time Equivalent (FTE) assigned to decision making:
CFCD Internal Decision Makers |
Administrative Officer | Executive Officer | Total |
181.2 | 148.6 | 329.8 |
*This covers both Administrative Officer (AO) and Executive Officer (EO) grades who conduct this work as part of CFCD’s Enhanced Review Team (ERT), Interventions, Investigations, Economic and Serious Organised Crime, and Compliance functions.
In addition, CFCD also refers some of the cases it reviews to decision makers within Universal Credit (UC). As of the 28th October 2024, this function has the following FTE assigned to decision making for CFCD cases:
UC Decision Makers Assigned to CFCD Cases
Total |
110.03 |