Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate his Department has made of when the asylum backlog will be reduced to 2010 levels.
Answered by Robert Jenrick - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
Provisional data indicates that between the end of November 2022 and October 2023 the legacy backlog reduced by 64% and we remain on track to clear the legacy backlog by the end of the year as per the Prime Minister’s commitment last year.
We will continue the steps we are already taking to speed up asylum processing whilst maintaining the integrity of the system. This includes better performance management, overtime, and shorer, focussed interviews.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent progress her Department has made on removing barriers to (a) school and (b) other group travel between the UK and France.
Answered by Robert Jenrick - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
All visitors to the United Kingdom are expected to hold a valid passport and visa where necessary. France has its own rules on entry requirements.
As part of an overall agreement on migration reached with France during the March Leaders’ Summit between the Prime Minister and the French President, we committed to easing travel between our two countries for school children on organised trips. Work is now under way to operationalise these arrangements.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the Government's policy is on extending the Youth Mobility Scheme to EU countries; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Robert Jenrick - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
We remain open to negotiating Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) arrangements with other countries and territories including EU Member States. However, as each YMS is subject to a bilateral, reciprocal agreement which also provides benefit to UK nationals, with the detail negotiated and agreed between the relevant parties, we are unable to disclose the status of negotiations as they occur. Further details of additional YMS agreements will be announced once they are concluded.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has held recent discussions with EU Member States on extending the Youth Mobility Scheme.
Answered by Robert Jenrick - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
We remain open to negotiating Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) arrangements with other countries and territories including EU Member States. However, as each YMS is subject to a bilateral, reciprocal agreement which also provides benefit to UK nationals, with the detail negotiated and agreed between the relevant parties, we are unable to disclose the status of negotiations as they occur. Further details of additional YMS agreements will be announced once they are concluded.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases were recorded of individuals who had entered the UK using the List of Travellers scheme overstaying or absconding in each of the last five years of its operation.
Answered by Robert Jenrick - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
The Home Office does not hold this data. The UK is no longer part of the List of Travellers scheme.
The change means all pupils visiting the UK on a school trip need a passport or travel document issued under the refugee conventions and, if required, a visa.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of identity fraud were detected among people entering the UK using the List of Travellers scheme in each of the last five years of its operation.
Answered by Robert Jenrick - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
The Home Office does not hold this data. The UK is no longer part of the List of Travellers scheme.
The change means all pupils visiting the UK on a school trip need a passport or travel document issued under the refugee conventions and, if required, a visa.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the impact of Diamorphine Assisted Treatment (DAT) in reducing drug-related crime.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
There is evidence from the UK and other countries that supervised injections of diamorphine in a medical environment as part of a structured treatment plan can assist in keeping patients in treatment and out of criminal behaviour, leading to a reduction in drug-related crime. The Government supports local authorities that choose to commission DAT as part of their drug treatment services, providing the relevant licences are obtained from the Home Office.
Our 10-year Drug Strategy sets out three core priorities for tackling drug misuse: cutting off drug supply, creating a world class treatment and recovery system and achieving a generational shift in the demand for drugs. It is underpinned by an investment of nearly £900 million in additional funding, including a record £780 million of new investment in drug treatment and recovery services across England.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Home Office:
What the average length of time is for her Department to process asylum applications.
Answered by Kevin Foster
Calculating an average length of time does not take into account the numerous factors that contribute to the decision-making process. Nor does it consider our prioritisation of children and the most vulnerable.
We are working to improve the speed of decisions and reduce the number of outstanding claims; but there will always be complex cases, and it is right we take time to work through them carefully, not rush to meet an arbitrary deadline.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many door supervisor licences are being used for the purpose of (a) door supervision and (b) security guarding in the most recent period for which that data is available.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Dissolution.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many door supervisor licences are being used by people in (a) part-time and (b) full-time roles in the most recent period for which that data is available.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Dissolution