Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions her Department has held with the PCS union over proposed changes to Border Force rosters at Manchester Airport from 1 April 2025.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Manchester Airport Group are investing £1.3 Billion in infrastructure transformation at Manchester Airport. During 2025, the Airport will transition from being a three-terminal operation to two terminals, and forecast passenger growth of 22% over the next two years.
As a consequence, Border Force have to reshape their operating model in line with the infrastructure changes. In addition, Border Force at Manchester Airport have seen the introduction of new rosters on an annual basis over several years.
The ambition is that all staff will be able to work the new roster. Anyone with a contractual workplace adjustment who is unable to work the roster will be given tailored individual support to secure suitable alternative roles.
The programme team have undertaken regular engagement with PCS and will continue to do so.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what equality impact assessment has been made of the proposed changes to Border Force rosters at Manchester Airport from 1 April 2025.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Manchester Airport Group are investing £1.3 Billion in infrastructure transformation at Manchester Airport. During 2025, the Airport will transition from being a three-terminal operation to two terminals, and forecast passenger growth of 22% over the next two years.
As a consequence, Border Force have to reshape their operating model in line with the infrastructure changes. In addition, Border Force at Manchester Airport have seen the introduction of new rosters on an annual basis over several years.
The ambition is that all staff will be able to work the new roster. Anyone with a contractual workplace adjustment who is unable to work the roster will be given tailored individual support to secure suitable alternative roles.
The programme team have undertaken regular engagement with PCS and will continue to do so.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what redeployment options are available to Border Force staff who are potentially unable to work new rosters at Manchester Airport from 1 April 2025.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Manchester Airport Group are investing £1.3 Billion in infrastructure transformation at Manchester Airport. During 2025, the Airport will transition from being a three-terminal operation to two terminals, and forecast passenger growth of 22% over the next two years.
As a consequence, Border Force have to reshape their operating model in line with the infrastructure changes. In addition, Border Force at Manchester Airport have seen the introduction of new rosters on an annual basis over several years.
The ambition is that all staff will be able to work the new roster. Anyone with a contractual workplace adjustment who is unable to work the roster will be given tailored individual support to secure suitable alternative roles.
The programme team have undertaken regular engagement with PCS and will continue to do so.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism's report entitled We sacrificed everything we had: seasonal workers left without jobs after Home Office decision, published on 24 August 2024, whether workers who had their visa applications rejected as a result of the Home Office’s revocation of Ethero’s sponsor licence will be compensated for (a) medical certificates, (b) TLSContact visa processing fees, (c) flights and (d) other costs incurred.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
There are no current plans to compensate those who are currently in the UK and have been impacted by the revocation of Ethero’s Sponsor Licence do not find themselves in a detrimental position so far as the continuity of employment is concerned.
Ethero were removed from the register of licensed sponsors for failing in their obligations towards workers under their sponsorship.
The UK government cannot underwrite the immigration costs of those seeking a visa to come to work in the UK and has no plans to compensate workers for (a) medical certificates, (b) TLSContact visa processing fees, (c) flights and (d) other costs incurred.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to help support people who have incurred costs to seek compensation following the revocation of Ethoro's seasonal worker scheme operator licence.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Provisions have been put in place to make certain that there is no detriment to individuals who were sponsored by Ethero. However, it is not within the remit of the Home Office to support workers in pursuing compensation claims.
The Home Office has also ensured that there is continuity of work with alternative sponsors for those who were originally attached to Ethero’s sponsor licence.
Organisations seeking to become scheme operators pass through a multifaceted selection process. This includes assessment and endorsement by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as well as holding licencing from the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority. They must also successfully apply for a sponsor licence from the Home Office.
We will continually work to ensure strong due diligence and safeguards in the sponsor licensing process.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether all workers already in the UK on the Seasonal Worker visa whose visas were sponsored by Ethero have been placed with a different Scheme Operator.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Provisions have been put in place to make certain that there is no detriment to individuals who were sponsored by Ethero. However, it is not within the remit of the Home Office to support workers in pursuing compensation claims.
The Home Office has also ensured that there is continuity of work with alternative sponsors for those who were originally attached to Ethero’s sponsor licence.
Organisations seeking to become scheme operators pass through a multifaceted selection process. This includes assessment and endorsement by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as well as holding licencing from the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority. They must also successfully apply for a sponsor licence from the Home Office.
We will continually work to ensure strong due diligence and safeguards in the sponsor licensing process.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of the due diligence carried out for the grant of a sponsor licence to Ethero.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Provisions have been put in place to make certain that there is no detriment to individuals who were sponsored by Ethero. However, it is not within the remit of the Home Office to support workers in pursuing compensation claims.
The Home Office has also ensured that there is continuity of work with alternative sponsors for those who were originally attached to Ethero’s sponsor licence.
Organisations seeking to become scheme operators pass through a multifaceted selection process. This includes assessment and endorsement by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as well as holding licencing from the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority. They must also successfully apply for a sponsor licence from the Home Office.
We will continually work to ensure strong due diligence and safeguards in the sponsor licensing process.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff at the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority work in (a) Scotland and (b) Northern Ireland.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
There are two Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) officers who work in Northern Ireland and one officer who works in Scotland. The GLAA can deploy their officers working in other regions to support the officers in Northern Ireland and Scotland in undertaking regulatory activity when there is capacity and a need to do so.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the aid budget of preparations to transport migrants to Rwanda including costs (a) paid to the Rwandan Government, (b) defending legal challenges (c) passing the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill and (d) for flights and accommodation in the last 12 months.
Answered by Michael Tomlinson
The funding for the Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda is separate from, and additional to, the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget.
The most recently published information, which includes costs paid to the Rwandan government and legal fees, is the National Audit Office Report which can be found here: UK-Rwanda Partnership - NAO report.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an estimate of potential future costs to the aid budget of plans to transport migrants to Rwanda including costs (a) paid to the Rwandan Government, (b) defending legal challenges and (c) flights and accommodation for the next 12 months.
Answered by Michael Tomlinson
The funding for the Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda is separate from, and additional to, the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget.
The most recently published information, which includes costs paid to the Rwandan government and legal fees, is the National Audit Office Report which can be found here: UK-Rwanda Partnership - NAO report.