Asked by: Martin Docherty-Hughes (Scottish National Party - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the Government’s immigration policies on (a) Scotland’s population and (b) labour shortages in Scotland.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
Our points-based system works for the whole of the UK by welcoming people to fill skills gaps, support our public services and boost our economy.
Furthermore, the Shortage Occupation List also includes occupations which are in shortage and are specific to Scotland, such as chemical scientists and Gaelic teachers.
Immigration policy cannot, however, be a complete solution to population movements within the UK or labour shortages. The Scottish Government has levers at its disposal to address these issues more effectively.
Asked by: Martin Docherty-Hughes (Scottish National Party - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to answer the letter of 3 December 2020 from the hon. Member for West Dunbartonshire relating to Mrs Gurpreet Singh Johal of Dumbarton.
Answered by Kevin Foster
A response was sent on 10 March 2021.
Asked by: Martin Docherty-Hughes (Scottish National Party - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that the protections afforded to Gypsies and Travellers under the Public Sector Equality Duty are encompassed in her response to the 2019 consultation, Strengthening police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments with regard to (a) criminalising trespass and (b) seizing homes.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Government is committed to ensuring all communities are treated fairly. We are equally clear that we will not tolerate law breaking.
That is why we set out in the Queen’s Speech in December 2019 our firm aim to bring forward legislation which will help police tackle unauthorised encampments where they cause harm and disruption.
All responses to the consultation have been considered and the Government response will be published soon.
Asked by: Martin Docherty-Hughes (Scottish National Party - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the Friends, Families and Travellers 2020 report, Police renew calls for more Gypsy and Traveller sites in opposition to the criminalisation of unauthorised encampments, published 9 September 2020, that concluded (a) 21.7 per cent of police respondents agreed with the Home Office proposals to criminalise unauthorised encampments and (b) 93.7 per cent of police bodies called for site provision as the solution to unauthorised encampments.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Asked by: Martin Docherty-Hughes (Scottish National Party - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraphs 13-15 of Annex A of the New Decade, New Approach document of 9 January 2020 regarding Government commitments on family migration arrangements for the people of Northern Ireland, whether they will be able to access on a permanent basis similar rights to family reunification as those available to Irish citizens in the UK under EEA regulations.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Home Office intends to change the UK’s Immigration Rules so family members of the people of Northern Ireland can apply for immigration status on broadly the same terms as family members of Irish citizens and will open the route in the near future.
Asked by: Martin Docherty-Hughes (Scottish National Party - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraphs 13-15 of Annex A of the New Decade, New Approach document of 9 January 2020 regarding Government commitments on family migration arrangements for the people of Northern Ireland, within what (a) timeframe and (b) legislative vehicle those commitments will be made.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Home Office intends to change the UK’s Immigration Rules so family members of the people of Northern Ireland can apply for immigration status on broadly the same terms as family members of Irish citizens and will open the route in the near future.
Asked by: Martin Docherty-Hughes (Scottish National Party - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many UK citizens renounced their citizenship in each year since 2012.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
Statistics of the number of British citizens renouncing their British citizenship are not routinely published separately but are included in total figures for renunciations of British nationality, which include other forms of British nationality such as British National (Overseas). The available published information of grants and refusals of renunciation of British nationality is published in the quarterly Immigration Statistics, Citizenship table cz_10, the latest edition of which is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-year-ending-june-2018/list-of-tables#citizenship
Asked by: Martin Docherty-Hughes (Scottish National Party - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what preparations her Department is making for the coordination of efforts to tackle weapons trafficking with EU member states after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Ben Wallace
The UK will in due course be leaving the EU but the importance of law enforcement co-operation with our EU and global allies has not changed.
We are exploring options for cooperation arrangements once the UK has left the EU. We will do what is necessary to keep people safe, but it would be wrong to set out unilateral positions on specific measures in advance of negotiations
The threat from firearms trafficking is transnational and requires a transnational response. The UK Government has been working with European partners to tackle the threat from illegally trafficked firearms and to share our expertise, and we will continue to do so.
Asked by: Martin Docherty-Hughes (Scottish National Party - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to develop a system for short-term study visas for EU citizens after the UK has left the EU.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
We are working across Government to identify and develop options to shape our future immigration system.
Parliament will have an important role to play in this and we will ensure businesses and communities have the opportunity to contribute their views.
Asked by: Martin Docherty-Hughes (Scottish National Party - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of changes to the short-term study visa system as a result of the UK's exit from the EU on the (a) UK's English language teaching sector and (b) further education sector.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
We are working across Government to identify and develop options to shape our future immigration system.
Parliament will have an important role to play in this and we will ensure businesses and communities have the opportunity to contribute their views.