Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential effect of offshore asylum processing on the mental health of people claiming asylum.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Nationality and Borders Bill, which is part of our New Plan for Immigration, seeks to build a fair, but firm asylum and illegal migration system.
On 16 September, we published an Equality Impact Assessment for the policies being taken forward through the Bill, which includes assessment of those who may have mental health needs. This can be found here: The Nationality and Borders Bill: equality impact assessment (accessible version) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
The Home Office will continue to ensure the welfare and dignity of all claimants forms a central platform of our decision-making processes.
Any vulnerabilities will be taken into consideration and every single person who is eligible for removal under this policy will be able to make representations where they are concerned the country in question would not be safe for them.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to minimise the financial challenges facing people who awaiting the results of an Indefinite Leave to Remain application.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Home Office’s service standard for the processing of ILR applications is six months. Where there is a specific reason cases cannot be decided within the service standard, we will contact the individual concerned.
Performance against service standards for ILR applications are included in the Migration Transparency data which is published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data#uk-visas-and-immigration
Where an applicant is in the UK and, at the time of making an application, has leave to enter or remain; section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971 extends the conditions of their visa, including their right to work if they have it, until the application is decided (or withdrawn).
The Home Office also allows for individuals with leave under particular provisions to submit a “change of conditions” application, if the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition has been applied to their leave, and there is a subsequent change in their financial circumstances.
When an individual makes an application following the expiry of their leave to enter or remain they would not benefit from the provisions in Section 3C, this is in keeping with ensuring individuals do not overstay their visa.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that people prevented from taking up employment as a result of awaiting a ruling on an immigration or asylum application are not pushed into poverty.
Answered by Kevin Foster
Asylum seekers and others who do not have leave to remain in the UK on a condition that gives them access to public funds are not eligible to benefits provided by the Department of Work and Pensions.
If an asylum seeker would otherwise be destitute the Home Office provides support under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, pending consideration of their asylum claim and any appeal. This support usually consists of free accommodation and a weekly financial allowance to cover other essential living needs.
Section 95 of support is not available to other groups of people applying for leave to remain in the UK.
Our policy allows asylum seekers to work if their claim has been outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own. Those permitted to work are restricted to jobs on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL), which is based on expert advice from the independent Migration Advisory Committee.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussion she has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on mitigating financial hardship for people in the immigration and asylum application process.
Answered by Kevin Foster
Asylum seekers and others who do not have leave to remain in the UK on a condition that gives them access to public funds are not eligible to benefits provided by the Department of Work and Pensions.
If an asylum seeker would otherwise be destitute the Home Office provides support under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, pending consideration of their asylum claim and any appeal. This support usually consists of free accommodation and a weekly financial allowance to cover other essential living needs.
Section 95 of support is not available to other groups of people applying for leave to remain in the UK.
Our policy allows asylum seekers to work if their claim has been outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own. Those permitted to work are restricted to jobs on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL), which is based on expert advice from the independent Migration Advisory Committee.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to (a) maintain and (b) enforce the ban on animal testing of cosmetics.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
The Government can confirm that the ‘testing’ and ‘manufacturing’ bans of animal testing of cosmetics are maintained and enforced.
Animal testing of cosmetics to permit their marketing for consumer use has been banned in the UK since 1998 and it is illegal to test cosmetic products, or their ingredients, on animals if that testing is to meet the requirements of the Cosmetics Regulations 2009.
Chemicals legislation to protect human health and the environment may require animal testing as a last resort where there are no alternatives under the UK REACH Regulations. However, this does not include finished cosmetic products.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential effect of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill on the operation of Article 11 of the Human Rights Act 1998.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
On introduction of the Bill in the House of Commons, the then Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (the Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP) made a statement under section 19(1)(a) of the Human Rights Act 1998 that, in his view, the provisions of the Bill are compatible with the Convention rights. Baroness Williams of Trafford also made a statement to the same effect when the Bill was introduced in the House of Lords.
Home Office, Ministry of Justice and Department for Transport Ministers have jointly published a memorandum addressing issues arising under the European Convention on Human Rights in relation to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, including Article 11 of the Convention. This memorandum is available on the gov.uk website at: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill 2021: overarching documents - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). A further ECHR memorandum will be published shortly in relation to the new public order measures tabled by the Government on 15 November for Lords Committee stage.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of the Nationality and Borders Bill on the human rights of those seeking asylum under the 1951 Refugee Convention.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The Nationality and Borders Bill, which is part of our New Plan for Immigration, seeks to build a fair, but firm asylum and illegal migration system. The Bill complies with the European Convention on Human Rights and the 1951 Refugee Convention.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many former barracks sites are being used to house asylum seekers in the UK.
Answered by Kevin Foster
Asylum seekers are currently being accommodated in Napier Barracks. There are no other Ministry of Defence sites being used.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that people seeking asylum in the UK are housed in covid-19 compliant conditions.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Home Office and their accommodation providers have been working with Public Health bodies throughout the pandemic to put in place a number of measures to support people in the asylum system who are affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, including working closely with providers to make sure the most vulnerable people within the system receive the support they need.
Our Initial Accommodation (IA) has been reconfigured to meet local and national health guidance. People accommodated in hostel-based accommodation receive translated guidance in relation to social distancing, potential symptoms, self-isolating and hygiene requirements. Onsite assistance and guidance are provided by support staff.
In Dispersed Accommodation, which is commonly family houses or homes of multiple occupancy accommodating small numbers, our asylum accommodation providers have put in place a range of measures and additional support to enable households to comply with public measures on social distancing and self-isolation. This has included food parcels and other items for people who are unable to leave the house, provision of telephony for those who are isolating and do not have a telephone, as well as increased welfare contact for those who are isolating. Additionally, service user essential living needs -including for cleaning and sanitary items - are met through a weekly cash allowance.
All asylum seekers in our accommodation have access to our Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility (AIRE) service provider, Migrant Help. They can contact Migrant Help 24 hours a day if they need assistance or guidance on COVID-19 or other issues – including reporting any concerns with accommodation.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to tackle dog theft in England and Wales.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
I refer the Hon Gentleman to the answer I gave to a question from my Hon Friend, the Member for Bosworth on 22 March (UIN 913720)