Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to publish the results of her Department's consultation, Strengthening police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments before the Police Powers and Protections Bill is brought before Parliament.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
As we set out in the briefing accompanying the Queen’s Speech in December 2019, it is our firm aim to bring forward legislation this session.
The Home Office launched a public consultation in November 2019 to seek views on how we could strengthen police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments. We will publish our response to that consultation in the usual way.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to publish the results her Department's consultation, Strengthening police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
As we set out in the briefing accompanying the Queen’s Speech in December 2019, it is our firm aim to bring forward legislation this session.
The Home Office launched a public consultation in November 2019 to seek views on how we could strengthen police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments. We will publish our response to that consultation in the usual way.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the increase in right-wing extremism.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Government is clear that far and extreme right-wing extremism have no place in Britain. This issue is taken seriously and is routinely discussed by Ministers. On 19 March 2019, the Inter-Ministerial Group on Safe and Integrated Communities, which is chaired by the Home and Communities secretaries, discussed the threat we face from extremism, including the far-right.
The Government’s £63 million Building a Stronger Britain Together programme is supporting civil society groups to stand up to extremism in their communities, including over 50 groups focusing on far-right extremism. The Government has also proscribed National Action and several of its aliases; and is safeguarding those vulnerable to far-right radicalisation through Channel – around half of the people supported through Channel were referred because of far-right concerns in 2017/18.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) NHS workers and (b) care workers can be recruited from (i) EU and (ii) non-EU countries after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
In December 2018, the Government set out its proposals in “the UK’s future Skills-based Immigration System” White Paper. The White Paper proposals include a new route for skilled workers which will be open to anyone at RQF level 3 and above, irrespective of where they are applying from. This route will not be capped allowing all of those who meet our requirements to come to the UK.
The White Paper also includes a transitional route for temporary workers which will be open to anyone from qualifying countries, wishing to fill positions at any skill level, for up to 12 months. We do not intend to impose a cap on the number of people wishing to use the route.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the salary exemption for nurses on Tier 2 visas will remain his policy after the UK leaves the EU; and what plans he has to extend that exemption to EEA citizens.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
We have been clear that we want all EU nationals, including those working in the NHS and the care sector, to stay in the UK after we leave the EU.
In their report, EEA migration in the UK, the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) recommended maintaining the existing system of salary thresholds.
The Government has been clear that we will undertake an extensive programme of engagement with a wide range of stakeholders across the UK, including with the private, public and voluntary sector and local government, as well as industry representatives and individual businesses before taking a final decision on the level of salary thresholds.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure that care workers from EU Member States can work in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
In December 2018, the Government set out its proposals in “the UK’s future Skills-based Immigration System” White Paper. The White Paper proposals include a new route for skilled workers which will be open to anyone at RQF level 3 and above, irrespective of where they are applying from. This route will not be capped allowing all of those who meet our requirements to come to the UK.
The White Paper also includes a transitional route for temporary workers which will be open to anyone from qualifying countries, wishing to fill positions at any skill level, for up to 12 months. We do not intend to impose a cap on the number of people wishing to use the route.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timetable is for publication of her Department's response to the consultation on the Investigatory Powers Act Codes of Practice; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Ben Wallace
The Public consultation on five codes of practice issued under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 took place over a six week period earlier this year, ending on 6 April.
As with the unprecedented levels of scrutiny the Act itself received during its passage through Parliament, the statutory consultation played a vital role in the development of these codes of practice, and the Government is grateful to those who took the time to respond to the consultation. The codes provide information and guidance to those public authorities able to exercise powers under the Investigatory Powers Act, and will ensure the powers are used in the intended manner.
The Government’s response to the consultation and the regulations bringing these codes into force will be laid before Parliament in due course. They will then be subject to scrutiny by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments, and will then be debated in Parliament.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department spent on advertising with the Evening Standard newspaper in each year since 2010.
Answered by Sarah Newton
The Home Office has not spent any money on public information advertising with the Evening Standard newspaper since 2010.
Costs relating to recruitment advertising is not held centrally, and collation of this information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what options are available to EEA national students who need to travel during the period in which their application to the European Processing Return Service is under consideration and that service has possession of their passport; and if she will take steps to make it possible for such students to submit applications online.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
Since 15 September 2016 EEA national students who financially support themselves have been able to submit online applications for a registration certificate or document certifying permanent residence.
Online applicants can also use the European Passport Return Service. This service, available via participating local authorities, allows the original passport to be checked and returned immediately to the holder to enable them to travel while their application is being processed. The local authority then submits a certified photocopy of the passport along with the other application papers to the UK Visas & Immigration.
Where an application has been submitted using the postal application process, EEA nationals can request return of their passport at any point in the application process using the online form which can be found here:
https://eforms.homeoffice.gov.uk/outreach/Return_of_Documents.ofml