Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that non-EEA (a) spouses and (b) partners of UK citizens residing in the UK applying (a) to extend their leave and (b) for indefinite leave to remain are not disadvantaged by the economic effect of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Home Office has put in place a range of measures to support those affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. We continue to monitor the situation closely and take these exceptional circumstances into account.
These are unprecedented times and we may make further adjustments to requirements where necessary and appropriate. We will ensure people are not unduly affected by circumstances beyond their control.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the level of gender-based and sexual violence experienced by women and girls held in transit on journeys to seek asylum in the UK.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
We recognise that those who travel illegally to seek asylum in the UK are vulnerable to exploitation and at risk of harm in transit, including from gender-based and sexual violence.
That is why those who need protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – as that is the fastest route to safety. We provide safe and legal routes to the UK through our resettlement schemes and family reunion provisions.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the safety of unaccompanied refugee children who have not been placed in alternative accommodation or registered with the French authorities after the demolition of the camp in Calais; and what steps the Government is taking in conjunction with the French authorities to help ensure the safety of those children.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The clearance of the camp is a French-led operation, but we have been working very closely with the French authorities to ensure that it is delivered as safely as possible, and that children are properly protected. We are committed to ensuring that minors eligible to come to the UK under the Dublin Regulation or the wider criteria of the Dubs amendment continue to be transferred as quickly as possible.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that former service personnel from other Commonwealth countries who wish to reside in the UK are supported through the immigration process.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
Under the Immigration Act 1971 Commonwealth Nationals are exempt from immigration control whilst serving in HM Forces. They may qualify for Indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom on discharge from the Services, if they have completed more than four years’ reckonable service and meet the other requirements of the Immigration Rules.
To assist the transition of serving personnel to civilian life, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) offers a wide-ranging resettlement programme. Home Office officials work closely with MoD colleagues and the Tri Services to ensure that those discharged from HM Forces receive advice on their immigration status.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to how many unaccompanied child refugees her Department has granted permission to join family in the UK; and what the countries of origin were of such children.
Answered by James Brokenshire
We support the principle of family unity and have several routes for families to be reunited safely. We do not hold collective figures on how many unaccompanied child refugees have been granted permission to join family in the UK; and what the countries of origin were of such children.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will establish an asylum programme for young Yazidi and other women who wish to relocate to the UK.
Answered by James Brokenshire
There are a number of resettlement schemes the UK operates that young Yazidi and other women may qualify for, subject to meeting the schemes’ varying criteria. These are Gateway, Mandate, the Syrian Resettlement Scheme and the Government’s new Children at Risk Resettlement Scheme. All schemes see the UK working closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to identify cases that they deem in need of resettlement according to agreed criteria. Only UNHCR registered refugees are eligible under these schemes.
The Syrian Resettlement Scheme is only for Syrian nationals. Gateway, Mandate and the Children at Risk Resettlement Scheme are not nationality specific.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what regulations on prior knowledge of English apply to applicants for Tier 4 visas where the student's principal purpose in entering the UK is to study English as a foreign language.
Answered by James Brokenshire
International students whose principal purpose for coming to the UK is to study English can use the Tier 4 (General) route of the points-based system or the short-term student route.
Applicants who wish to study a course below degree level under Tier 4 (General) must demonstrate that they are competent in English language at a minimum of level B1 in all four components (speaking, listening, reading and writing) on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Those who wish to study a course at degree level or above must demonstrate they are competent at a minimum of level B2 in all four components.
Applicants who wish to study under the short-term student route are not required to demonstrate a prior knowledge of English language. English language courses may be studied for up to 11 months under this route.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Tier 4 visas have been issued to students entering the UK to study English as a foreign language as their principal area of study in each of the last five years.
Answered by James Brokenshire
Acquiring this information would involve examining each individual case record held by UKVI for the category. To do so would incur a disproportionate cost.