To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Asylum: Housing
Monday 5th June 2023

Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with Peel Ports Group Ltd on proposals to house asylum seekers in the Wirral Waters development in the River Mersey.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

In order to address the significant pressure on the asylum accommodation system, Home Office officials have had discussions with organisations across the UK to identify suitable locations for accommodation.


Written Question
Asylum: Housing
Monday 5th June 2023

Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to engage with (a) local authorities and (b) other relevant stakeholders on locations which are being considered for vessels to house asylum seekers to be berthed.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

We engage with relevant local authorities and other key local stakeholders before making a decision whether to proceed.


Written Question
Asylum: Housing
Monday 5th June 2023

Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department issues on local (a) consent and (b) support as factors that may be considered when making decisions about where vessels for housing asylum seekers should be berthed.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

We engage with local authorities and other key local stakeholders before making a decision whether to stand up asylum accommodation.


Written Question
Asylum: Housing
Monday 5th June 2023

Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has had discussions with Wirral Council on the potential use of a vessel at the Wirral Waters development in the River Mersey to house asylum seekers.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

Extensive engagement has been undertaken with senior Home Office Officials. A multi-agency forum is being established.


Written Question
Asylum: Housing
Monday 24th April 2023

Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with Peel Ports on the potential housing of asylum seekers on a boat at its Wirral Waters development.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

We do not routinely comment on individual sites or proposals that may or may not be used for asylum accommodation.


Written Question
Asylum: Housing
Monday 24th April 2023

Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to house asylum seekers on a boat in the River Mersey at Wirral Waters.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

We do not routinely comment on individual sites or proposals that may or may not be used for asylum accommodation.


Written Question
Asylum: Housing
Thursday 20th April 2023

Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the projected cost of plans to house asylum seekers on a boat on the River Mersey at Wirral Waters.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

The United Kingdom has a legal obligation to provide asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute with accommodation and other support whilst their claim for asylum is being considered.

Ongoing work across government is being undertaken to identify and secure more appropriate, cost-effective accommodation options. In exploring potential alternative large sites, we continue to consider all available options to source appropriate and cost-effective temporary accommodation, including the option of the usage of vessels. Considerations regarding design, usage and cost are ongoing.


Written Question
Fraud
Wednesday 30th March 2022

Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the impact of the 4 to 4.5 per cent real terms cut to the National Crime Agency’s budget on its ability to tackle fraud.

Answered by Rachel Maclean

The Government is increasing law enforcement investigative capacity to tackle fraud. Last year we invested £63 million, and over the next three years the Spending Review has allocated a further £400 million, in tackling economic crime including fraud. This includes establishing a new fraud investigative function in the NCA, meeting a manifesto commitment to create a new national cyber crime force focused on fraud.

In addition, we are creating new fraud investigation teams in Regional Organised Crime Units. These new capabilities, driven by a new tasking and coordination process run by the National Economic Crime Centre, will target the most serious and harmful frauds.

Later this year, we will publish a new approach to address the threat of fraud. This will further set out how we will work with law enforcement to tackle fraud and bring offenders to justice.


Written Question
Passport Office: Correspondence
Tuesday 21st September 2021

Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the backlog of correspondence at HM Passport Office on the adequacy of help for correspondents; what strategy is in place to clear that backlog; and what discretion will be in place for people who have been affected by that backlog.

Answered by Kevin Foster

Her Majesty’s Passport Office will always endeavour to ensure that correspondence is handled in a timely manner, however there are currently high levels of contact which is causing some delays. In light of this, a triage process is in place to support those with the most urgent needs. We are working to recruit additional staff to deal with enquiries, alongside using other contingency measures, such as overtime.

For those who need a British passport urgently on compassionate grounds they should continue to call the Passport Adviceline.

A British passport will not be issued until all checks have been satisfactorily completed, however passport applications continue to be typically processed well within the published guidance of up to ten weeks.


Written Question

Question Link

Tuesday 14th September 2021

Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to improve conviction rates in cases of fraud.

Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)

The Government recognises that to improve conviction rates, there needs to be an increased pipeline of cases under investigation. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Service (HMICFRS) carried out an inspection of the police response to fraud in 2019. The review found that significant improvements are required to ensure the model works more effectively and efficiently, including the need for a much more co-ordinated national approach with clear roles and responsibilities.

In August 2021, a follow up review from the HMICFRS established that the majority of their initial recommendations had been met, citing improvements across numerous areas of the law enforcement response. Despite this, we know that more needs to be done to ensure law enforcement has the capacity and capability to respond effectively to fraud. We will continue to work with partners to act on outstanding HMICFRS recommendations and improve the law enforcement response at all levels moving forward.

We are also considering all routes, including legislation, to ensure that law enforcement have all the tools they need to go after fraudsters and crucially to protect those who are vulnerable to these harmful crimes