Oral Answers to Questions

Margaret Ferrier Excerpts

Monday 8th February 2021 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I am sorry about that. We will now go to Margaret Ferrier.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)]

Will the Home Office exercise discretion and flexibility for current UK-based Hongkongers by incorporating the time they have already spent in the UK under a tier 4 or tier 5 visa, should they wish to apply for the new British national overseas scheme?

[Priti Patel]

The scheme has only just been launched. I reassure the hon. Lady that we are working with all sorts of civil society organisations, and I have spent a lot of time in dialogues and roundtables with a range of representatives. Therefore, having just launched the scheme, which is a bespoke humanitarian route created for BNOs, we are absolutely looking at how we can ensure that the route works well. We are also engaging with non-governmental organisations and civil society to ensure that we do not miss people.