Asked by: Ben Everitt (Conservative - Milton Keynes North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions Border Force has had with Trading Standards on tackling the importation of illegal e-cigarette devices.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
Building on an already close relationship, Border Force is working with Trading Standards at a number of locations around the UK, agreeing processes and ways of working that help ensure illegal e-cigarettes are prevented from entering the UK.
Asked by: Ben Everitt (Conservative - Milton Keynes North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she is taking steps to ensure that accommodation sites for asylum seekers will be distributed equally across the UK.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The enduring solution to this challenge is to stop the illegal, dangerous and unnecessary small boat crossings that are overwhelming our asylum system. Not only is every crossing attempt a potential tragedy, as we have seen far too often, but the people arriving via these small boats have travelled through, and have left, safe countries with fully functioning asylum systems to reach the UK.
The former Minister for safe and Legal Routes announced a move to full dispersal on 13 April 2022. The new system of full dispersal accommodation allows the Home Office to move from using hotels to less expensive and more suitable dispersed accommodation. Under full dispersal plans, all Local Authorities in England, Scotland and Wales are considered a dispersal area and are required to to take part in asylum dispersal. This will lead to a more equitable distribution of asylum seekers across the UK and reduce pressures on the minority of Local Authorities which previously participated.
To support full dispersal, delivery plans have been developed in partnership with local government across all UK regions. Plans were designed to ensure a more equitable spread of dispersed accommodation across the UK. Regional Governance Boards will monitor performance against plans.
Asked by: Ben Everitt (Conservative - Milton Keynes North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to improve the Skilled Worker visa system.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
By embracing technology, we are delivering a streamlined, simplified and modern visa system.
The system is working well, the Skilled Worker route is attracting the brightest and best, making a positive contribution to our economy.
We have simplified the employer sponsorship process and by 2025 will have a fully digital end-to-end application system providing greater efficiency for our customers.