Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the circumstances leading to the detention of journalist, Martin Banks, by the UK Border Force on 26 February 2022.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
We do not comment on individual cases.
Border Force’s number one priority is to maintain a secure border, and we will not compromise on this.
While it is not possible to reveal the details of how security checks at the border operate, Border Force undertakes to perform 100 per cent checks on scheduled passengers arriving in the UK.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will publish a list of Russians who have been granted fast track visas under the recently discontinued investor visa scheme.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Home Office does not, for data protection reasons, publish personal details of those who make an application under the Immigration Rules.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has received on the upcoming election to the presidency of Interpol from (a) former ministers and former officials in her Department and (b) the former Minister for the Middle East, Rt Hon. Alistair Burt.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Officials are continuing to assess the suitability of all candidates for the INTERPOL Executive Committee elections on 25 November, and a decision on voting intentions, including the presidency, will be taken in due course.
As is commonplace in multilateral elections, representations have been made to the Department by both countries presenting candidates for the presidency.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has received on the upcoming election to the presidency of Interpol from (a) former ministers and former officials in her Department and (b) the former Minister for the Middle East, Rt Hon. Alistair Burt.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Officials are continuing to assess the suitability of all candidates for the INTERPOL Executive Committee elections on 25 November, and a decision on voting intentions, including the presidency, will be taken in due course.
As is commonplace in multilateral elections, representations have been made to the Department by both countries presenting candidates for the presidency.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations her Department has received in support of the candidacy of Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi for the presidency of Interpol.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Officials are continuing to assess the suitability of all candidates for the INTERPOL Executive Committee elections on 25 November, and a decision on voting intentions, including the presidency, will be taken in due course.
As is commonplace in multilateral elections, representations have been made to the Department by both countries presenting candidates for the presidency.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations her Department has received in support of the candidacy of Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi for the presidency of Interpol.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Officials are continuing to assess the suitability of all candidates for the INTERPOL Executive Committee elections on 25 November, and a decision on voting intentions, including the presidency, will be taken in due course.
As is commonplace in multilateral elections, representations have been made to the Department by both countries presenting candidates for the presidency.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking with her international counterparts to ensure Interpol retains public confidence.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
The Government strongly supports INTERPOL’s efforts to ensure systems are in place that protect individuals’ human rights in line with Article 3 of INTERPOL's Constitution which strictly forbids any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.
The Home Office continues to work with INTERPOL and the National Crime Agency (NCA), which acts as the UK’s National Central Bureau (NCB) for INTERPOL, to monitor the effectiveness of existing safeguards. We encourage INTERPOL to uphold international human rights obligations and we won’t hesitate to recommend further reforms to INTERPOL as necessary.
During the G7 Interior and Security Ministers’ meeting in London on 7-9 September we also secured commitments from international partners to strengthen our collective efforts to deter the misuse of INTERPOL systems and support organisational reform and governance at INTERPOL.
Proportionate due diligence is undertaken into individuals seeking election to the role of INTERPOL President. In the run up to the elections at the General Assembly, officials from the Home Office, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the National Crime Agency are in regular contact with international counterparts. The decision on who to support will be based on a thorough assessment of the merits of each candidate.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consideration does she give to (a) a candidate’s or (b) their home country’s commitment to the rule of law when assessing their suitability to be president of Interpol.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
The Government strongly supports INTERPOL’s efforts to ensure systems are in place that protect individuals’ human rights in line with Article 3 of INTERPOL's Constitution which strictly forbids any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.
The Home Office continues to work with INTERPOL and the National Crime Agency (NCA), which acts as the UK’s National Central Bureau (NCB) for INTERPOL, to monitor the effectiveness of existing safeguards. We encourage INTERPOL to uphold international human rights obligations and we won’t hesitate to recommend further reforms to INTERPOL as necessary.
During the G7 Interior and Security Ministers’ meeting in London on 7-9 September we also secured commitments from international partners to strengthen our collective efforts to deter the misuse of INTERPOL systems and support organisational reform and governance at INTERPOL.
Proportionate due diligence is undertaken into individuals seeking election to the role of INTERPOL President. In the run up to the elections at the General Assembly, officials from the Home Office, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the National Crime Agency are in regular contact with international counterparts. The decision on who to support will be based on a thorough assessment of the merits of each candidate.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consideration does she give to a candidate’s or their home country’s human rights record when assessing their suitability to be president of Interpol.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
The Government strongly supports INTERPOL’s efforts to ensure systems are in place that protect individuals’ human rights in line with Article 3 of INTERPOL's Constitution which strictly forbids any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.
The Home Office continues to work with INTERPOL and the National Crime Agency (NCA), which acts as the UK’s National Central Bureau (NCB) for INTERPOL, to monitor the effectiveness of existing safeguards. We encourage INTERPOL to uphold international human rights obligations and we won’t hesitate to recommend further reforms to INTERPOL as necessary.
During the G7 Interior and Security Ministers’ meeting in London on 7-9 September we also secured commitments from international partners to strengthen our collective efforts to deter the misuse of INTERPOL systems and support organisational reform and governance at INTERPOL.
Proportionate due diligence is undertaken into individuals seeking election to the role of INTERPOL President. In the run up to the elections at the General Assembly, officials from the Home Office, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the National Crime Agency are in regular contact with international counterparts. The decision on who to support will be based on a thorough assessment of the merits of each candidate.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what due diligence is she conducting into the suitability of the candidates standing to be president of Interpol.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
The Government strongly supports INTERPOL’s efforts to ensure systems are in place that protect individuals’ human rights in line with Article 3 of INTERPOL's Constitution which strictly forbids any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.
The Home Office continues to work with INTERPOL and the National Crime Agency (NCA), which acts as the UK’s National Central Bureau (NCB) for INTERPOL, to monitor the effectiveness of existing safeguards. We encourage INTERPOL to uphold international human rights obligations and we won’t hesitate to recommend further reforms to INTERPOL as necessary.
During the G7 Interior and Security Ministers’ meeting in London on 7-9 September we also secured commitments from international partners to strengthen our collective efforts to deter the misuse of INTERPOL systems and support organisational reform and governance at INTERPOL.
Proportionate due diligence is undertaken into individuals seeking election to the role of INTERPOL President. In the run up to the elections at the General Assembly, officials from the Home Office, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the National Crime Agency are in regular contact with international counterparts. The decision on who to support will be based on a thorough assessment of the merits of each candidate.