Asked by: Charles Walker (Conservative - Broxbourne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has been made of the effect on freedom of speech of bringing forward further legislative proposals to limit protests.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
In the development of legislation that will allow police to take a more proactive approach in managing highly disruptive protests, the Home Office has paid due regard to the European Convention on Human Rights, most notably articles 10 and 11 which relate to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and association, respectively.
Asked by: Charles Walker (Conservative - Broxbourne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timescale is for bringing forward legislative proposals to introduce new police powers to manage protest; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Legislation, that will allow police to take a more proactive approach in managing highly disruptive protests, will be brought forward shortly.
Asked by: Charles Walker (Conservative - Broxbourne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of temporarily extending the Tier 5 visa two year limit for au pairs currently in the UK who have had their work and travel opportunities curtailed by the response to the covid-19 restrictions; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Home Office has put in place temporary arrangements to ensure visas due to expire are extended to enable people to remain legally in the UK until the point when restrictions are eased and a return to their home countries is possible. These safeguards ensure no person will lose their legal status in the UK and it is therefore not necessary to extend the two-year limit on any of the T5 routes.
As has been the case since 2008, the UK’s points-based immigration system does not include a dedicated visa route for au pairs, so there is no set time limit for one. The visa being referred to by the Hon Member may be the Youth Mobility Scheme which grants those aged 18-30 from participating countries up to 2 years in the UK during which they can study or work, with their employment not restricted to being an Au Pair or any other role.
Asked by: Charles Walker (Conservative - Broxbourne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending Tier 5 visas for overseas 18 to 30 year olds; and if she will make statement.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) is a cultural exchange programme, allowing young people aged 18 to 30 from participating countries and territories to experience life in the UK for up to two years.
The UK currently operates nine Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) arrangements with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, San Marino, Japan, Monaco, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. We have indicated our desire to negotiate further agreements with our international partners.
However, as each YMS is subject to a bilateral, reciprocal agreement which also provides benefit to UK Nationals, the Home Office will not add nations to the scheme unilaterally in the absence of such an agreement.
Asked by: Charles Walker (Conservative - Broxbourne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2020 to Question 117954, if she will publish which provisions under the Serious Crime Act 2007 which allow for someone engaging in peaceful protest that is in breach of Coronavirus regulations to be detained and/or charged under that Act; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
People are required to follow the rules under the current national measures that are in place for large gatherings, including protests. They are in place to protect the public and save lives during this national pandemic.
Sections 44 to 46 of the Serious Crime Act 2007 provide for offences of encouraging or assisting an offence. Whether someone engaging in peaceful protest that is in breach of Coronavirus regulations has committed an offence under sections 44 to 46 of the Serious Crime Act of encouraging or assisting an offence will depend on the circumstances.
Individual decisions on detaining or charging an individual are operational matters for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.
Asked by: Charles Walker (Conservative - Broxbourne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2020 to Question 91956, whether people speaking and attending peaceful protests against the (a) autumn 2020 covid-19 lockdown restrictions and (b) Government's use of powers attached to that lockdown can be (i) arrested and (ii) charged with provisions under in the Serious Crime Act 2007 around the commissioning of an offence and incitement; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Decisions regarding whether to arrest and charge individuals is a matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.
Asked by: Charles Walker (Conservative - Broxbourne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the removal of the protest exemption from The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 4) Regulations 2020 makes all protests attended by more than two people illegal during the November 2020 lockdown restrictions; what steps her Department is taking to protect the fundamental right to protest; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The right to peaceful protest is one of the cornerstones of our democracy. However, in these unprecedented circumstances, any gathering risks spreading the disease, leading to more deaths, so it is vital we all play our part in controlling the virus.
People must follow the rules on meeting with others, which apply to all gatherings and therefore protests too. Any larger gatherings, save for very limited exemptions such as funerals, are unlawful. The current measures are time limited and are due to come to an end on 2 December.
As they have done throughout the pandemic, the police and local authorities will engage, explain and encourage people to follow the rules before moving on to enforce the law.
Asked by: Charles Walker (Conservative - Broxbourne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress her Department has made on ensuring that people eligible for compensation under the Windrush scheme have received the financial recompense they are entitled to; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Priti Patel
There has been significant outreach and communication activity to publicise the Windrush Compensation Scheme. These events have been promoted by stakeholders and on local and social media. We are now continuing events online: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/windrush-online-engagement-events.
We also work with MPs, local councils and stakeholders to raise awareness and materials on the scheme are available on GOV.UK and have been provided to community groups to try to ensure that all those affected are aware of the scheme.
Our recently published statistics on the payments made under the Windrush Compensation Scheme, show a clear increasing trajectory of payments: £362,997 paid in the first 12 months of the scheme, of which £300,799 was paid in the most recent three months of that period. Comprehensive data can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/windrush-compensation-scheme-data-may-2020.
The Home Office has additionally made offers of approximately £280,000 in compensation through the scheme. Once the offers are accepted by the applicants, the payments will be made.
We work with claimants throughout the process to obtain as much information about the claim as possible. This approach ensures that claimants receive the maximum possible amount to which they are entitled under the scheme.
Asked by: Charles Walker (Conservative - Broxbourne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether European Firearms Passes currently held will be valid in the weeks immediately after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Once the United Kingdom leaves the EU, we expect that UK residents travelling to EU countries with their firearm or shotgun will no longer be able to use a European Firearms Pass. They would instead have to comply with whatever licensing or other requirements that other EU countries impose.
This will not impact on the UK’s domestic firearms controls. EU nationals bringing firearms temporarily into the UK will continue to require a visitors’ firearm permit issued by a UK police force.
The Government has published a technical notice setting out information on the potential loss of the European Firearms Pass, to allow UK businesses and citizens to make informed plans and preparations, on gov.uk.