Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what training is provided to BN(O) caseworkers on assessing allegations of politically motivated prosecution and serious trial unfairness arising from the 2019 Hong Kong protests, including where the alleged conduct would constitute a criminal offence in the UK.
Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
All applications made under the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa route are considered in line with published guidance. The latest published guidance on GOV.UK - Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route - advises caseworkers on the consideration of all evidence available and when to request further information to reach a fully informed decision. This includes when to apply guidance on validity and evidential flexibility. Caseworkers will always seek to work with applicants if they need additional time to provide information in support of their application.
The Home Office does not record information on how many referrals are made to either an operational senior caseworker or policy official during the application consideration process. Obtaining this level of information would require investigation into individual cases which would be at a disproportionate cost. However, in general terms, a caseworker will seek advice from a senior caseworker if considered necessary when considering how to proceed with an application where there is an overseas conviction.
The BN(O) guidance covers overseas convictions. Where the offence is not recognised in UK law or carries a substantially higher penalty overseas than would apply in the UK, it does not result in the automatic refusal of an application. The Government keeps the operation of the BN(O) route under careful review to ensure it continues to reflect its policy intent and the UKs commitment to the Hong Kong community.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Hong Kong British National (Overseas) applications involving overseas convictions have been referred to a senior caseworker or the BN(O) Route Policy team in each year since 2021; and how many of those cases resulted in a grant or refusal.
Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
All applications made under the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa route are considered in line with published guidance. The latest published guidance on GOV.UK - Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route - advises caseworkers on the consideration of all evidence available and when to request further information to reach a fully informed decision. This includes when to apply guidance on validity and evidential flexibility. Caseworkers will always seek to work with applicants if they need additional time to provide information in support of their application.
The Home Office does not record information on how many referrals are made to either an operational senior caseworker or policy official during the application consideration process. Obtaining this level of information would require investigation into individual cases which would be at a disproportionate cost. However, in general terms, a caseworker will seek advice from a senior caseworker if considered necessary when considering how to proceed with an application where there is an overseas conviction.
The BN(O) guidance covers overseas convictions. Where the offence is not recognised in UK law or carries a substantially higher penalty overseas than would apply in the UK, it does not result in the automatic refusal of an application. The Government keeps the operation of the BN(O) route under careful review to ensure it continues to reflect its policy intent and the UKs commitment to the Hong Kong community.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department are taking to give Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa applicants an opportunity to respond to material adverse evidence obtained from Hong Kong court records before a refusal decision is made.
Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
All applications made under the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa route are considered in line with published guidance. The latest published guidance on GOV.UK - Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route - advises caseworkers on the consideration of all evidence available and when to request further information to reach a fully informed decision. This includes when to apply guidance on validity and evidential flexibility. Caseworkers will always seek to work with applicants if they need additional time to provide information in support of their application.
The Home Office does not record information on how many referrals are made to either an operational senior caseworker or policy official during the application consideration process. Obtaining this level of information would require investigation into individual cases which would be at a disproportionate cost. However, in general terms, a caseworker will seek advice from a senior caseworker if considered necessary when considering how to proceed with an application where there is an overseas conviction.
The BN(O) guidance covers overseas convictions. Where the offence is not recognised in UK law or carries a substantially higher penalty overseas than would apply in the UK, it does not result in the automatic refusal of an application. The Government keeps the operation of the BN(O) route under careful review to ensure it continues to reflect its policy intent and the UKs commitment to the Hong Kong community.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures have been implemented following the Government's 2021 response to paragraph 68 of the Home Affairs Committee's report, The UK's offer of visa and settlement routes for residents of Hong Kong (HC 191), on investigating potentially politically motivated convictions.
Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Applications to the BN(O) route are subject to the same suitability requirements that apply across the immigration system. These provisions provide important safeguards against serious criminality, deception and other conduct. Caseworkers consider suitability in accordance with the Immigration Rules and published BN(O) route and suitability caseworker guidance, which can be found here:
Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BNO) route: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK
Grounds for refusal – criminality: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK
All applications are considered on a case by case. Caseworker guidance for the BN(O) route provides flexibility to ensure that overseas convictions for offences not recognised in UK law, or offences that attract substantially higher penalties overseas than they would in the UK, do not result in the automatic refusal of an application. Ministers also have residual discretion to grant leave outside the rules in exceptional cases.
There are no specific transitional arrangements relating to previously disclosed Hong Kong convictions. Applications are assessed against the Immigration Rules and guidance in force at the date of decision.
We are aware of concerns that some Hong Kongers may have been refused on suitability grounds following convictions arising from politically motivated prosecutions in Hong Kong. The Government is keeping the operation of the BN(O) route under careful review to ensure it continues to reflect its policy intent and the UK's commitment to the Hong Kong community.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance is provided to BN(O) caseworkers on assessing the provenance, completeness and reliability of Hong Kong court judgments and prosecution records used in visa suitability decisions.
Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Applications to the BN(O) route are subject to the same suitability requirements that apply across the immigration system. These provisions provide important safeguards against serious criminality, deception and other conduct. Caseworkers consider suitability in accordance with the Immigration Rules and published BN(O) route and suitability caseworker guidance, which can be found here:
Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BNO) route: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK
Grounds for refusal – criminality: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK
All applications are considered on a case by case. Caseworker guidance for the BN(O) route provides flexibility to ensure that overseas convictions for offences not recognised in UK law, or offences that attract substantially higher penalties overseas than they would in the UK, do not result in the automatic refusal of an application. Ministers also have residual discretion to grant leave outside the rules in exceptional cases.
There are no specific transitional arrangements relating to previously disclosed Hong Kong convictions. Applications are assessed against the Immigration Rules and guidance in force at the date of decision.
We are aware of concerns that some Hong Kongers may have been refused on suitability grounds following convictions arising from politically motivated prosecutions in Hong Kong. The Government is keeping the operation of the BN(O) route under careful review to ensure it continues to reflect its policy intent and the UK's commitment to the Hong Kong community.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 19 October 2026 to Question 32659, what transitional arrangements apply to previously disclosed Hong Kong convictions in (a) BN(O) visa extension applications, (b) settlement applications and (c) decisions to cancel existing permission.
Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Applications to the BN(O) route are subject to the same suitability requirements that apply across the immigration system. These provisions provide important safeguards against serious criminality, deception and other conduct. Caseworkers consider suitability in accordance with the Immigration Rules and published BN(O) route and suitability caseworker guidance, which can be found here:
Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BNO) route: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK
Grounds for refusal – criminality: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK
All applications are considered on a case by case. Caseworker guidance for the BN(O) route provides flexibility to ensure that overseas convictions for offences not recognised in UK law, or offences that attract substantially higher penalties overseas than they would in the UK, do not result in the automatic refusal of an application. Ministers also have residual discretion to grant leave outside the rules in exceptional cases.
There are no specific transitional arrangements relating to previously disclosed Hong Kong convictions. Applications are assessed against the Immigration Rules and guidance in force at the date of decision.
We are aware of concerns that some Hong Kongers may have been refused on suitability grounds following convictions arising from politically motivated prosecutions in Hong Kong. The Government is keeping the operation of the BN(O) route under careful review to ensure it continues to reflect its policy intent and the UK's commitment to the Hong Kong community.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what published policy governs the treatment of evidence of politically motivated prosecution in Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa applications where paragraph SUI 5.1(a) of Part Suitability applies.
Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Applications to the BN(O) route are subject to the same suitability requirements that apply across the immigration system. These provisions provide important safeguards against serious criminality, deception and other conduct. Caseworkers consider suitability in accordance with the Immigration Rules and published BN(O) route and suitability caseworker guidance, which can be found here:
Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BNO) route: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK
Grounds for refusal – criminality: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK
All applications are considered on a case by case. Caseworker guidance for the BN(O) route provides flexibility to ensure that overseas convictions for offences not recognised in UK law, or offences that attract substantially higher penalties overseas than they would in the UK, do not result in the automatic refusal of an application. Ministers also have residual discretion to grant leave outside the rules in exceptional cases.
There are no specific transitional arrangements relating to previously disclosed Hong Kong convictions. Applications are assessed against the Immigration Rules and guidance in force at the date of decision.
We are aware of concerns that some Hong Kongers may have been refused on suitability grounds following convictions arising from politically motivated prosecutions in Hong Kong. The Government is keeping the operation of the BN(O) route under careful review to ensure it continues to reflect its policy intent and the UK's commitment to the Hong Kong community.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the joint letter on children’s media literacy from experts and organisations published on 7th October, if her Department will provide schools and teachers with the guidance, training and resources required to deliver a high-quality media and digital literacy education to all children.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for North Durham to the answer of 30 October to Question 36476.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to establish a media and digital literacy framework setting out (a) what pupils should know and be able to do at each key stage and (b) how Citizenship, English, Computing, relationships, sex and health education and the wider curriculum should contribute.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for North Durham to the answer of 30 October to Question 36476.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will meet representatives of organisations that signed the joint letter on children’s media literacy, coordinated by Internet Matters and Molly Rose Foundation and published on 7 October 2026.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for North Durham to the answer of 30 October to Question 36476.