Johnny Mercer

There has been engagement with a number of stakeholders to date and this will continue as the Insolvency Service transitions from 21 offices to 11 regional centres over the next three years.

Individual office business cases and impact assessments will be monitored as the project progresses. The Insolvency Service is in discussion with affected employees on a range of options, including flexible working and help with increased travel costs, to support a move to their nearest regional centre location

A significant cross-government effort is under way, dubbed ‘Operation Warm Welcome’, to ensure Afghans arriving in the UK receive the vital support they need to rebuild their lives, find work, pursue education, and integrate into their local communities.

As part of Operation Warm Welcome, it was announced there would be further funding for up to 300 undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships for Afghans at UK universities. The department will update with further details of this programme in due course.

The Department for Transport is currently working on the scope of the call for evidence on motoring offences.

My Department is committed to the safe restart of cruise and monitoring the risk of transmission and will require passengers and crew to present a negative Covid-19 test prior to embarkation. However, the matter of mandating vaccinations in order to travel on domestic cruises in the UK is a matter for individual operators. This is a commercial matter, with cruise operators formulating their own policies on Covid-19 safety measures.

More information about safe domestic cruise travel in the UK can be found on the gov.uk website.

The Ombudsman’s investigation is ongoing and section 7(2) of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 states that Ombudsman investigations “shall be conducted in private”. It is not appropriate to comment on the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's report of 19 July 2021 on stage 1 of their investigation.

Epipen 300 microgram pens and Epipen 150 microgram Epipens continue to be available and alternative brands of adrenaline auto-injectors also remain available.

The Department and NHS England and NHS Improvement are developing proposals for dental system reform, working with stakeholders, such as the British Dental Association. This includes proposals to improve patient access, reduce health inequalities and make the National Health Service a more attractive place to work for dentists.

Following a three-year review of dental education and training, Health Education England set out recommendations in the Advancing Dental Care Review. These aim to tackle recruitment and retention challenges, attracting more dentists into the National Health Service. These recommendations will be implemented through the Dental Education Reform Programme.

The Department and NHS England and NHS Improvement are developing proposals to reform the current NHS dental contract, working with the British Dental Association. This aims to improve access for patients and make working for the NHS more attractive for dentists and their teams. The Department is also currently working with the General Dental Council on legislative proposals to allow greater flexibility to expand overseas registration routes open to international applicants.

In 2020/2021 there were 23,733 dentists with National Health Service activity in England and 2,560 in the South West. Data is not collected at constituency level.

The Government ended the shielding programme on 15 September 2021. People previously considered clinically extremely vulnerable are advised to follow general guidance, while considering extra precautions to reduce the risk of infection. Updated public health advice was issued on 24 December 2021 for those previously considered clinically extremely vulnerable, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

We have also issued guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious outcomes from COVID-19, which is available at the following link:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk

NHS England and NHS Improvement have written to general practices and hospital trusts in England to raise awareness of the guidance.

At the end of Operation Pitting 311 principals called forward to Hamid Karzai Airport under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme had not been evacuated. 99 of them are now in the UK and 45 in third countries. Helping all those who want to leave Afghanistan and who are eligible to come to the UK remains a priority. The Government has made clear to the Taliban the need to ensure safe passage of those entitled to go to another country. The Joint Afghanistan Casework Unit, staffed by officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Home Office and Ministry of Defence, is taking forward the UK's commitment to resettle those eligible to come to the UK. The ARAP scheme remains open.

Data on licences issued will be provided in OFSI’s Annual Review 2021-22 which is due to be published this year.

Individuals already settled in the UK under ARAP/EX-Gratia scheme seeking relocation for additional family members are required to apply under the additional family guidance via their original sponsoring department (MOD or FCDO). Application For Relocation To The United Kingdom Under ARAP (office.com)

In recognition of the urgency of the evacuation and the need to act quickly, the majority of those who entered the UK during the evacuation phase were granted limited leave to enter, usually for 6 months, with access to public funds and employment. This status is not a bar to them being permanently housed or to starting their life in the UK, including taking employment.

The Home Office has now started the process to support all those currently in the UK with 6 months leave to apply for and be granted ILR. We will be providing support for the completion of application forms, which will be required to ensure we obtain up to date personal information and to obtain the necessary biometric resident permit consent. Our aim is to conclude this process before anyone’s leave expires.

Communications have been issued advising individuals of next steps to progress permanent residence in the UK. Amongst the information provided, those communications confirm individuals’ rights to employment and to access services (e.g. medical treatment, school places). They also provide links to guidance and information on how prospective employers and landlords can contact the Home Office to confirm individuals’ right to take employment and rented accommodation.

Applications that have been received but are pending a decision on eligibility are regarded as 'pending'.

Applications assessed as eligible and undergoing the casework processes necessary to facilitate relocation to the UK are regarded as 'in progress'.

Applications that have concluded the casework process are cleared for relocation but are awaiting relocation are regarded as 'processed'.

Applications where the principal applicant and any dependants have arrived in the UK and been passed into the care of the Home Office are regarded as 'complete'.

As at 22 February the Afghan Relocation & Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme has received in excess of 110,000 applications. To meet this unprecedented challenge a dedicated team of caseworkers are working 7 days a week to process these applications.

As at 22nd February over 110,000 applications have been received to the Afghan Relocation & Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme and a dedicated team of caseworkers are working 7 days a week to process these applications. Routinely, applications are progressed in the order they have been received. In some cases, further information has to be requested from the applicant, and subject to that being received (and when) this may have implications for when decisions on the application are made. In exceptional circumstances, HMG may expedite ARAP applications. This will generally (but not exclusively) be where ARAP caseworkers become aware that there is credible evidence one or more of the following applies: there is an unusually high and imminent threat to life; the applicant requires immediate life-saving medical treatment for a medical condition unavailable in their current location; there are implications for diplomatic and international relations; or there are implications for national security.

We continue to devote significant resources to this task; and, to date our efforts have resulted in the relocation to the UK of over 8,000 ARAP principals and their dependants.

As of 18 February 2022, over 110,000 applications have been received; many of which are found to be incomplete or duplications. We do not record metrics for the processing times of applications, and any number of factors can affect how long it takes for an applicant to progress through each stage of the process. For example: their location, access to IT, employment history verification, security checks, or family circumstances.

We continue to devote significant resources to this task; a dedicated team of caseworkers work seven days a week to process pending applications. To date, their efforts have resulted in the relocation to the UK of over 8,000 eligible applicants and dependants.

As of 18 February 2022, over 110,000 applications have been received; many of which are found to be incomplete or duplications. We do not record metrics for the processing times of applications, and any number of factors can affect how long it takes for an applicant to progress through each stage of the process. For example: their location, access to IT, employment history verification, security checks, or family circumstances.

We continue to devote significant resources to this task; a dedicated team of caseworkers work seven days a week to process pending applications. To date, their efforts have resulted in the relocation to the UK of over 8,000 eligible applicants and dependants.

Individuals with Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK have no immigration restrictions on their employment however, as per s.340 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 the right to enlist in the UK Armed Forces is restricted to British or Commonwealth citizens, or either sole or dual nationals of the Republic of Ireland. The only exception to this legislation is the special and unique arrangement permitting Nepalese citizens to enlist in the Brigade of Gurkhas.

Afghans relocated under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, and any other migrants to the UK would be eligible to enlist in the UK Armed Forces once they had applied for and obtained British nationality.

Under the framework established by the Legal Services Act 2007, the legal profession in England and Wales operates independently of the government. Regulation of legal services is independent of the professions and government.

Lawyers are subject to significant anti-money laundering responsibilities and duties, as well as strict procedures when transacting with sanctioned individuals. Those individuals are required to obtain a license from the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation to make payments for legal services.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has put out guidance reminding solicitors of their professional obligations and legal requirements if they represent sanctioned individuals. The SRA Code of Conduct requires all regulated law firms to have appropriate policies in place to ensure compliance with sanctions legislation, including undertaking regular and appropriate checks of sanctions lists. The SRA is stepping up spot checks, focused on those firms who may be exposed to the Russian market, and investigations to monitor and enforce compliance. It has been in touch with all solicitors and firms to remind them directly of their obligations.

Breaching the financial sanctions requirements can result in potential criminal prosecution or a fine. This is also the case where there is evidence of serious or repeated breaches of money laundering regulations. In the last four years, the SRA have prosecuted more than 60 such cases at the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. These have resulted in a range of fines, as well as multiple solicitors having been struck off or suspended.

Legal sector regulators are also coming together rapidly to look at what can be done to further improve the enforcement of the restrictions under the current sanction and anti-money laundering regime. The SRA has also recently consulted on increasing its internal fining powers, which could increase deterrence and enable it to resolve cases more quickly.

KRW Law were offered a legal aid contract which allowed them to represent families of the victims at the inquest into the Birmingham Pub Bombings. Our thoughts are with the families of those who died during this horrific attack.

Legal aid is available for inquests in exceptional cases, which is why we funded the families throughout this inquest.

While our review of legal aid showed that legal representation is not necessary for the vast majority of inquests, we are making a number of changes to ensure there is more support for bereaved families.

Payments by the Legal Aid Agency to KRW Law during the last five years are broken down as below. Note that legal aid costs are paid in arrears, therefore payments may be made in a different year to that in which services were provided:

No legal aid has been allocated to Madden and Finucane in any of the last five years.

The total cost of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry to the end of May 2010 is £191.2 million. These are the publicly available figures that were published following the completion of the inquiry and publication of the report in 2010.

The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

The UK Government does not hold this information as Justice and legal aid is devolved in Northern Ireland. The Legal Services Agency, an executive agency sponsored by the Northern Ireland Department of Justice, administers the provision of legal aid in Northern Ireland. The total payments made from the legal aid fund to barristers and solicitors' practices have not been published since 2015.