Asked by: Jeremy Hunt (Conservative - Godalming and Ash)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of giving Ukrainians with temporary residence the option to apply for visas longer than 18 months.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
We recognise the Ukrainian government’s desire for the future return of its citizens to Ukraine to assist in the rebuilding of that country. It is important our approach respects these wishes.
This is why the temporary Ukraine Schemes do not lead to settlement in the UK.
We will, of course, continue to keep the Ukraine schemes under review in line with developments in Ukraine.
There are other routes available for those who wish to settle in the UK permanently, if they meet the requirements.
Asked by: Jeremy Hunt (Conservative - Godalming and Ash)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress her Department has made on implementing the 2015 counter-extremism strategy; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Government is committed to tackling all forms of extremism under its Counter-Extremism Strategy published in October 2015. The strategy sets out a programme of action to build our understanding of extremism, to challenge extremism and disrupt extremist activity and to strengthen communities and institutions so that they are better able to resist extremist narratives by building partnerships with all those opposed to extremism.
Three examples of progress we have made in implementing the 2015 strategy are as follows. This list is not exhaustive;
The independent Commissioner for Countering Extremism has assessed that the Government has delivered the majority of commitments in the 2015 Strategy in her report published on 7 October 2019. The Government will publish a final assessment of the strategy when it comes to an end.
Asked by: Jeremy Hunt (Conservative - Godalming and Ash)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many additional security and intelligence staff have been employed across all Government agencies since 2015.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Cutting crime is a priority for this Government and we recognise that there are strong links between drug misuse and crime. Tough enforcement is a fundamental part of our approach to tackling drugs and we are working across Government to address the drivers behind drug-related crime and help prevent further substance misuse and offending.
We continue to surge law enforcement action to tackle county lines and its associated violence and exploitation. The Home Secretary has announced £25m of targeted investment across 19-20 and 20-21 to significantly increase law enforcement’s response to the issue. The Home Office has also announced that a UK Drugs Summit will take place on 27 February, which will bring together all four nations of the United Kingdom, to consider the challenges we are facing and to reflect on what more can be done to address drug supply and reduce drug harms.
The Prime Minister has also established a Cabinet committee on crime which will help to drive cross-Government action in this area.