Asked by: Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat - Chelmsford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce waiting times for skilled worker visa applications and renewals.
Answered by Mike Tapp
All straightforward skilled worker visa applications are being processed within our advertised service standard. If customers wish to receive a quicker response, they have the option of selecting a priority service on which there is no cap.
With regards to undefined certificates of sponsorship (CoS), we have recently reduced our core service standard by a third and increased priority slots by a minimum of 100 per week. These are also being processed within their service standard.
Asked by: Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat - Chelmsford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 14 April 2026 to Question 124428 on Visas: Skilled Workers, what steps she is taking to review the oversubscription of priority services for changes of visa sponsorship for skilled workers.
Answered by Mike Tapp
All straightforward skilled worker visa applications are being processed within our advertised service standard. If customers wish to receive a quicker response, they have the option of selecting a priority service on which there is no cap.
With regards to undefined certificates of sponsorship (CoS), we have recently reduced our core service standard by a third and increased priority slots by a minimum of 100 per week. These are also being processed within their service standard.
Asked by: Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat - Chelmsford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what engagements she has had with the Windrush Commissioner since he took up that role.
Answered by Mike Tapp
The Independent Windrush Commissioner, since his appointment last year, has engaged regularly with the Minister for Migration and Citizenship and senior Home Office officials and will continue to do so as part of his role in overseeing progress on the Government’s commitments.
Asked by: Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat - Chelmsford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of claimants for the Windrush compensation scheme whose applications are being processed.
Answered by Mike Tapp
As of the end of December 2025, the Windrush Compensation Scheme had received 11,133 claims. Of those, 10,696 claims (over 94% of all claims received) had received a final decision, with 9,061 claims fully closed.
The Government remains committed to improving the Windrush Compensation Scheme. To ensure those who wish to apply to the scheme are supported to do so, the Government launched the £1.5 million Windrush Compensation Advocacy Support Fund in 2025, enabling trusted local organisations to help claimants gather evidence and complete applications. The Year 2 funding round opened on 12 January and closed on 6 February, with successful bids to be announced shortly.
Work is also underway, in collaboration with the Windrush Commissioner, to review the scheme’s application process.
Asked by: Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat - Chelmsford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Windrush compensation scheme.
Answered by Mike Tapp
As of the end of December 2025, the Windrush Compensation Scheme had received 11,133 claims. Of those, 10,696 claims (over 94% of all claims received) had received a final decision, with 9,061 claims fully closed.
The Government remains committed to improving the Windrush Compensation Scheme. To ensure those who wish to apply to the scheme are supported to do so, the Government launched the £1.5 million Windrush Compensation Advocacy Support Fund in 2025, enabling trusted local organisations to help claimants gather evidence and complete applications. The Year 2 funding round opened on 12 January and closed on 6 February, with successful bids to be announced shortly.
Work is also underway, in collaboration with the Windrush Commissioner, to review the scheme’s application process.
Asked by: Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat - Chelmsford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of people eligible for compensation under the Windrush compensation scheme that have not made a claim.
Answered by Mike Tapp
As of the end of December 2025, the Windrush Compensation Scheme had received 11,133 claims. Of those, 10,696 claims (over 94% of all claims received) had received a final decision, with 9,061 claims fully closed.
The Government remains committed to improving the Windrush Compensation Scheme. To ensure those who wish to apply to the scheme are supported to do so, the Government launched the £1.5 million Windrush Compensation Advocacy Support Fund in 2025, enabling trusted local organisations to help claimants gather evidence and complete applications. The Year 2 funding round opened on 12 January and closed on 6 February, with successful bids to be announced shortly.
Work is also underway, in collaboration with the Windrush Commissioner, to review the scheme’s application process.
Asked by: Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat - Chelmsford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has considered the potential merits of reforming the application process to the Windrush compensation scheme.
Answered by Mike Tapp
As of the end of December 2025, the Windrush Compensation Scheme had received 11,133 claims. Of those, 10,696 claims (over 94% of all claims received) had received a final decision, with 9,061 claims fully closed.
The Government remains committed to improving the Windrush Compensation Scheme. To ensure those who wish to apply to the scheme are supported to do so, the Government launched the £1.5 million Windrush Compensation Advocacy Support Fund in 2025, enabling trusted local organisations to help claimants gather evidence and complete applications. The Year 2 funding round opened on 12 January and closed on 6 February, with successful bids to be announced shortly.
Work is also underway, in collaboration with the Windrush Commissioner, to review the scheme’s application process.
Asked by: Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat - Chelmsford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department has reviewed the suitability of resources, including trained personnel and appropriate equipment, used by UK Border Force when searching for and rescuing migrants in the English Channel.
Answered by Mike Tapp
The operational response to these dangerous, illegal, and unnecessary crossings of the Channel by migrants in small boats is led by Border Security Command’s Maritime and Small Boat Operations. The personnel and equipment needs for that command are kept under regular review to ensure that resource matches risk.
Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) operations in the Channel, rescuing migrants from unseaworthy vessels, are coordinated and directed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). BSC Maritime and Small Boat Operations work closely with DfT and MCA (the regulator) to ensure safety and legal compliance.
Asked by: Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat - Chelmsford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will consider the treatment of LGBTQ+ refugees when assessing enforced returns to countries with newly established regimes, particularly where a change of government has not resulted in improved protections for LGBTQ+ people.
Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
All asylum and human rights claims including those based on sexual orientation and gender identity are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. Each individual assessment is made against the background of relevant case law and the latest available country of origin information. This is based on evidence taken from a wide range of reliable sources, including reputable media outlets; local, national, and international organisations, including human rights organisations; and information from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office. Our assessment of the situation of a given group in a given country, is set out in the relevant country policy and information note, which is available on Country policy and information notes - GOV.UK.
When someone applies for settlement, we review the situation in their country to assess whether they still need protection. Those who no longer need protection can return home in safety or apply to stay under other provisions of the Immigration Rules.
We will not remove anyone to any country where they will face persecution or serious harm.
Asked by: Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat - Chelmsford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that LGBTQ+ refugees will not be forcibly returned to countries where they are likely to face persecution.
Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
All asylum and human rights claims including those based on sexual orientation and gender identity are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. Each individual assessment is made against the background of relevant case law and the latest available country of origin information. This is based on evidence taken from a wide range of reliable sources, including reputable media outlets; local, national, and international organisations, including human rights organisations; and information from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office. Our assessment of the situation of a given group in a given country, is set out in the relevant country policy and information note, which is available on Country policy and information notes - GOV.UK.
When someone applies for settlement, we review the situation in their country to assess whether they still need protection. Those who no longer need protection can return home in safety or apply to stay under other provisions of the Immigration Rules.
We will not remove anyone to any country where they will face persecution or serious harm.