Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason her Department has reclassified more than 600 files relating to the 1974 Provisional IRA Guildford pub bombings resulting in some files remaining closed for an additional 84 to 100 years.
Answered by James Brokenshire
These files have not been reclassified. The files were held as a single collection with a closed status at The National Archives and a review date of 2019.
Following review of the files, it was decided that it was necessary to apply to extend the closure periods. The Freedom of Information Act exemptions engaged can be found by searching individual records at: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C3043
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential effect on the health and social care sector in Northern Ireland of the Government's proposed immigration reforms.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Government has considered relevant views, evidence, and analysis. We are also working alongside employers across the whole of the UK to ensure the workforce has the right number of people to meet increasing demands and have recently launched a national recruitment campaign.
The Government published “The UK’s Points-Based System: Policy Statement” on 19 February.
To facilitate the migration of skilled workers to support the NHS, we will create a fast-track NHS visa for certain medical professionals with NHS job offers reducing their visa fees and providing support to come to the UK with their families.
Senior care workers who meet the criteria will be able to come to the UK through the points-based system. The Independent Migration Advisory Committee, the MAC has been clear immigration is not the solution to addressing staffing levels in the social care sector.
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with employers in the (a) public and (b) private sector throughout Northern Ireland's border regions on the movement of labour required to ensure (i) effective service delivery and (ii) economic growth.
Answered by Kevin Foster
We will deliver a future immigration system which works for the whole of the UK. The Government published “The UK’s Points-Based System: Policy Statement” on 19 February.
This was based on the report of the independent Migration Advisory Committee which considered a range of evidence about the UK Labour Market. Immigration is and will remain a reserved matter.
A new programme of engagement will begin this March to raise awareness of the new system, ensuring those affected by the changes are fully aware of what it means for them and understand how the system will operate. This will include engagement with stakeholders across Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions (a) she and (b) her Cabinet colleagues have had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the proposed changes to immigration policy.
Answered by Kevin Foster
We will deliver a future immigration system which works for the whole of the UK. The Government published “The UK’s Points-Based System: Policy Statement” on 19 February.
This was based on the report of the independent Migration Advisory Committee which considered a range of evidence about the UK Labour Market. Immigration is and will remain a reserved matter.
A new programme of engagement will begin this March to raise awareness of the new system, ensuring those affected by the changes are fully aware of what it means for them and understand how the system will operate. This will include engagement with stakeholders across Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government's proposed immigration changes were discussed with the heads of the devolved Administrations at the recent Joint Ministerial Committee meeting.
Answered by Kevin Foster
We will deliver a future immigration system which works for the whole of the UK. The Government published “The UK’s Points-Based System: Policy Statement” on 19 February.
This was based on the report of the independent Migration Advisory Committee which considered a range of evidence about the UK Labour Market. Immigration is and will remain a reserved matter.
A new programme of engagement will begin this March to raise awareness of the new system, ensuring those affected by the changes are fully aware of what it means for them and understand how the system will operate. This will include engagement with stakeholders across Northern Ireland.