Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
These initiatives were driven by Mike Gapes, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Mike Gapes has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
Tibet (Reciprocal Access) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Tim Loughton (CON)
Pedicabs (London) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Paul Scully (CON)
Mutualisation of the Royal Bank of Scotland Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Gareth Thomas (LAB)
The latest date in which an EU citizen can submit a UC1 form to register as an elector in the European Parliament elections is 12 working days before the date of the election. This is based on regulations contained within Representation of the People Act 1983, Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001, Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 2001, and Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008.
The rules governing the conduct of European Parliament elections provide for poll cards only to be sent to individuals who are registered to vote in the poll or an individual who has been appointed to vote as proxy for an elector. There is no provision for poll cards to be issued to any other individuals.
Council Directive 93/109/EC requires all Member States to send the details of any EU citizens' declarations to their Home State to ensure an EU citizen does not vote twice, both here and in another EU country. The Council Directive specifies that this has to be done "sufficiently in advance of polling day"
The latest date in which an EU citizen can submit a UC1 form to register as an elector in the European Parliament elections is 12 working days before the date of the election. This is based on regulations contained within Representation of the People Act 1983, Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001, Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 2001, and Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008.
The rules governing the conduct of European Parliament elections provide for poll cards only to be sent to individuals who are registered to vote in the poll or an individual who has been appointed to vote as proxy for an elector. There is no provision for poll cards to be issued to any other individuals.
Council Directive 93/109/EC requires all Member States to send the details of any EU citizens' declarations to their Home State to ensure an EU citizen does not vote twice, both here and in another EU country. The Council Directive specifies that this has to be done "sufficiently in advance of polling day.
A list of Executive Agencies is included in Public Bodies 2018-19. This can be found by following this link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-bodies-2018-19-report
Alternatively, a copy is also available in the House Library using the following details: Public Bodies 2018-19: 2019-0385
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the Member for Halifax (Ms Lynch) on Thursday 7 September 2017 to written question 6973.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the Member for Halifax (Ms Lynch) on Thursday 7 September 2017 to written question 6973.
The BBC is operationally and editorially independent from government and the government cannot intervene in the BBC’s day-to-day operations, including distribution.
We understand that, where BBC channels are made available without the BBC’s permission outside of the UK, it will take appropriate action to close these services down.
All schools, including independent schools, are required to safeguard children from harm. This includes the harm of radicalisation and extremism. In addition to their statutory safeguarding obligations, under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, schools are subject to the Prevent duty which requires them to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”.
Under the Prevent duty, and as set out in the Teachers’ Standards and Independent School Standards, schools must actively promote our shared values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
Ofsted’s inspection framework is already clear that all schools must promote these values and adhere to the Prevent duty. All inspectors are trained to inspect under the framework and Ofsted also has inspectors with specialist counter-extremism skills and experience. The department continues to work with Ofsted to learn from the findings of its inspections and ensure the department’s work continues to support the sector to effectively implement the Prevent duty.
All maintained schools and academies are inspected by Ofsted, as are just under half of all independent schools. Those independent schools not inspected by Ofsted are subject to inspections by the Independent Schools Inspectorate or the School Inspection Service.
The Teachers’ Standards can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/665520/Teachers__Standards.pdf
The Independent School Standards can be found here: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/3283/schedule/made.
The last report received by the Secretary of State for Education relating to teaching standards and education at Ad-Deen Primary School was from Ofsted following their inspection of the school on 19-20 January 2011. This judged the school to be satisfactory for curriculum, teaching and assessment.
Defra is negotiating for a proportionate, flexible and simplified approach to the proposed new EU legislation for Plant Reproductive Material. Our principal objectives are to make things simpler and to achieve positive outcomes for businesses and gardeners alike.
Defra has made numerous representations to the European Commission on its proposed regulation for Plant Reproductive Material. The representations have been through correspondence, negotiation at Council Working Groups, informal discussion, and in a specially convened meeting between Defra, Commission officials and UK stakeholders in London in June 2013.
Defra takes the lead for the UK's membership to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the Convention on Biological Diversity. These require contracting parties to conserve the genetic diversity of agricultural varieties, including heritage varieties. Defra sponsors three genetic resource collections which maintain heritage varieties: the National Fruit Collection, the John Innes Pea Collection, and the vegetable collection at Warwick University. Defra is planning to follow up previous research assessing, conserving and encouraging the further cultivation of locally adapted fruit and vegetable varieties (landraces).
Defra took a leading role in developing simpler EU registration requirements, introduced in 2009, for heritage varieties of agricultural and vegetable species. These allow marketing on the basis of a simplified, low cost description, with proportionate controls to assure seed quality. Defra is now seeking further simplification in the proposed new Plant Reproductive Material legislation currently under discussion at European level.
Both the EU and the UK have been clear that the Implementation Period will be agreed under Article 50 and be part of the Withdrawal Agreement. Both sides have also been clear that Gibraltar is covered by the Withdrawal Agreement and our Article 50 exit negotiations.
The Prime Minister said clearly in the House on Monday that as we negotiate these matters we will be negotiating to ensure that the relationships are there for Gibraltar as well. We are not going to exclude Gibraltar from our negotiations for either the implementation period or the future agreement.
Both the EU and the UK have been clear that the Implementation Period will be agreed under Article 50 and be part of the Withdrawal Agreement. Both sides have also been clear that the Overseas Territories, including Anguilla, are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement and our Article 50 exit negotiations.
In these negotiations, we are seeking a deal that works for the whole UK family, including Anguilla.
As the Prime Minister has made clear and was set out in the Department for International Trade’s White Paper ‘Preparing for our future UK trade policy’, after we leave the EU the UK will operate an independent trade policy. It will be exclusively for the UK and Gibraltar to determine our future bilateral commercial and trading relationship. In terms of the UK’s and Gibraltar’s future relationship with the EU, these are subject to negotiations and we have been clear throughout that we are not going to exclude Gibraltar from our negotiations for either the implementation period or the agreement for the future.
My Rt Hon Friend the member for Witham (Ms Patel) resigned as Secretary of State for International Development on 8 November. The Department was not aware of the visit in advance of it taking place.
My Rt Hon Friend the member for Witham (Ms Patel) resigned as Secretary of State for International Development on 8 November. The Department has not arranged any such meetings.
My Rt Hon Friend the member for Witham (Ms Patel) resigned as Secretary of State for International Development on 8 November. The Department was not aware of the visit in advance of it taking place.
My Rt Hon Friend the member for Witham (Ms Patel) resigned as Secretary of State for International Development on 8 November. The information is not held by the Department.
My Rt Hon Friend the member for Witham (Ms Patel) resigned as Secretary of State for International Development on 8 November. The information is not held by the Department.
My Rt Hon Friend the member for Witham (Ms Patel) resigned as Secretary of State for International Development on 8 November. The information is not held by the Department.
My Rt Hon Friend the member for Witham (Ms Patel) resigned as Secretary of State for International Development on 8 November. Ministers have frequent and ongoing discussions about the Department's work in the Middle East.
My Rt Hon Friend the member for Witham (Ms Patel) resigned as Secretary of State for International Development on 8 November. The Department does not hold information related to the question.
My Rt Hon Friend the member for Witham (Ms Patel) resigned as Secretary of State for International Development on 8 November. The Permanent Secretary was not informed ahead of the visit.
Since the Department was created its Trade Policy Group (TPG) has grown to Approximately 470 people at the end of October 2018, bringing together trade policy, country specialists and experts on trade policy issues. A number of DIT staff in offshore posts are also undertaking work on market access trade policy issues.
Typically, a trade negotiation will involve teams of differing sizes, with expertise relevant to the specific chapters or sectors being negotiated as part of that agreement which will differ for each but will be drawn primarily from DIT TPG. The exact make up will depend on the complexity and scope of any agreement and would be staffed by DIT policy officials with the involvement of expertise from other Departments. These officials are not designated negotiators specifically.
In addition other DIT staff will also be involved in supporting the negotiators and for instance, handling relations with Parliament and external stakeholders.
The anticipated final costs of the Crossrail project are yet to be confirmed. It is expected the project will be completed within the funding envelope of £17.6bn. The Department is working with Transport for London, for whom Crossrail Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary.
Crossrail Limited, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Transport for London, is currently working on a revised delivery plan. Crossrail Limited has committed to delivering the full Elizabeth line services as quickly as possible once the central tunnels have been completed, to provide a service that will carry up to 200 million passengers a year.
The Government is spending more than £600 million by 2020 to support the development, manufacture and uptake of electric ultra low emission vehicles in the UK. This programme includes grant incentives for motorists to purchases vehicles, and funding for the installation of chargepoints at home and at work. Our aim is that all new cars and vans should be zero emission by 2040. This will mean that almost all cars and vans on our roads are zero emission by 2050.
The tax system also supports the transition to cleaner vehicles, for example pure electric vehicles are exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty. At Autumn Statement 2015 the Chancellor confirmed that the diesel supplement would be retained in company car tax until 2021. HM Treasury has recently consulted on how company car tax can best incentivise ultra low emission vehicles.
The attached table shows the capital funding allocated to each National Health Service trust in London, including Barking, Havering and Redbridge Universities NHS Trust, in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2017-18 inclusive.
Due to the way in which some funding was recorded in 2010-11 and 2011-12, it has not been possible to separate revenue and capital funding. Because of this, some funding has been excluded from this table for these years and is shown by an asterisk.
The Department provides some specific central support in the form of capital loans and public dividend capital. The details of all financial assistance provided by the Department to individual National Health Service trusts and foundation trusts, including capital loans and public dividend capital, under section 40 of the National Health Service Act 2006 are published annually alongside the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts.
The largest centrally allocated capital programme over the period to 2022 is the sustainability and transformation partnerships (STP) capital programme. The following table shows the announced value of capital investment in STP schemes for London NHS trusts. The breakdown of funding in individual years will be determined - once they complete the standard full business case process.
Lead organisation | STP Scheme | Capital from STP Funding to 2022/23 (£000) |
Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust | Children and Adolesent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Tier 4. 3 new beds | 300 |
Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust | St Pancras - transformation of mental health and substance misuse services | 86,0001 |
Central and North West London Foundation Trust | CAMHS Tier 4. Kingswood Hospital. Five additional beds for people with learning difficulties/autistic spectrum disorders | 2,090 |
Central and North West London Foundation Trust | CAMHS Tier 4. 12 additional beds | 2,100 |
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust | Northwick Park Mental Health Wards - Single Bedrooms Reconfiguration | 520 |
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust | Oak Tree Ward - Woodlands Mental Health Wards Reconfiguration, Hillingdon | 502 |
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust | Pond Ward - Park Royal Mental Health Wards Reconfiguration | 2,350 |
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust | South West London Acute Providers consolidation of the three procurement functions into a single shared service, purchase to pay system, inventory management, and IT and telephony equipment | 2,149 |
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust | Patient Centric Supply Chain | 10,500 |
Imperial College NHS Trust | The Development of an Endovascular Hybrid Theatre | 1,865 |
Kingston NHS Foundation Trust | Patient Flow Transformation Programme | 3,444 |
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust | Re-provision of eight compliant theatres | 27,030 |
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | Project Oriel - a new eye care, research and education facility | 18,2481 |
South London and Maudsley Foundation Trust | CAMHS Tier 4. Eight additional beds for people with learning difficulties/autistic spectrum disorders. Beds would open December 2018 | 2,700 |
South West London and St George’s NHS Mental Health Trust | EMP Enabler - New Care Home | 7,100 |
South West London and St George's NHS Mental Health Trust | Barnes Medical Centre development of a healthcare facility to provide mental health outpatient services, an extended range of general practice services, and a range of other community services | 11,100 |
London Ambulance Service | Addition of 25 Double Crewed Ambulance vehicles is expected to receive all their £3,849,000 funding in 2018-19. | 3,8492 |
Notes:
1Further funding is beyond the period to 2022-23 and contributions will also be from other funding sources. Part of the Camden and Islington funding is in the form of a bridging loan in advance of land disposal receipts.
2All funding for this scheme expected to be provided in 2018-19.
In addition, future funding has been allocated for some large capital schemes to specific London providers and as follows:
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- there remains around £52.6 million available which was allocated specifically for the introduction of proton beam therapy; and
- there remains around £96.9 million available for the ongoing development of the haematology and short stay surgery, and head and neck services.
Social care funding for future years will be settled in the Spending Review, where the overall approach to funding local government will be considered in the round.
The attached table shows the capital funding allocated to each National Health Service trust in London, including Barking, Havering and Redbridge Universities NHS Trust, in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2017-18 inclusive.
Due to the way in which some funding was recorded in 2010-11 and 2011-12, it has not been possible to separate revenue and capital funding. Because of this, some funding has been excluded from this table for these years and is shown by an asterisk.
On 24 April 2013, the independent Review of the Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions, chaired by Sir Bruce Keogh, was published. A copy has already been placed in the Library.
The Government Response to the Review of the Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions, was published on 13 February. A copy of the response has already been placed in the Library. We fully accept the principles of the Keogh review and the overwhelming majority of the recommendations.
The Government has undertaken to strengthen standards through better training and robust qualifications, and explore how far supervision from regulated professionals might support self-regulation of the sector.
The Royal College of Surgeons has set up an inter-specialty committee to ensure standards for cosmetic surgery and will work with the General Medical Council on a code of ethical conduct. Health Education England (HEE) is leading on a review of training and qualifications for providers of non-surgical cosmetic interventions, including lasers. On 11 September, HEE published a phase 1 report Review of qualifications required for delivery of non-surgical cosmetic interventions. A copy of the report is attached.
The Care Quality Commission has developed a new inspection methodology to cover independent health providers, reflecting the protocols used for National Health Service hospitals. The inspections will be conducted with relevant specialists within the inspection teams, including those with experience in cosmetic interventions.
The Department is also taking steps to meet relevant stakeholders to discuss cosmetic procedures and the necessity and form of any further regulation to protect the public. There are no current plans to introduce a statutory register of providers of cosmetic laser treatments.
The usual practice of the Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics: research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including pancreatic cancer treatment. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and the National Health Service, value for money and scientific quality.
In August 2011, the Government announced £800 million investment over five years in a series of NIHR Biomedical Research Centres and Units, including £61.5 million funding for the Royal Marsden/Institute of Cancer Research Biomedical Research Centre, and £6.5 million funding for the Liverpool Biomedical Research Unit in gastrointestinal disease (which has a major focus on pancreatic cancer treatment). Some research they conduct is relevant to multiple cancer sites.
Pharmaceutical companies work in partnership with NIHR research infrastructure. The NIHR Clinical Research Network is currently hosting six pancreatic cancer treatment studies that are recruiting patients and have commercial funders. Commercial partners also work with the NIHR Biomedical Research Centres and Units, and with the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres (jointly funded by NIHR and Cancer Research UK).
Achieving earlier diagnosis of cancer is key to our ambition to save an additional 5,000 lives per year by 2014-15. However, we know that early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer can be very difficult as the symptoms are shared with a wide range of benign conditions.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer (2005) are available to help general practitioners (GPs) assess when it is appropriate to refer patients for suspected cancer, including pancreatic cancer. NICE is in the process of updating the guidelines to ensure that these reflect latest evidence and can continue to support GPs to identify patients with suspected cancer symptoms and urgently refer them as appropriate. NICE's anticipated publication date for the revised guidelines is May 2015.
The cancer waiting times two week urgent suspected cancer standard – which is included in the NHS Constitution – ensures that, where GPs are concerned that a patient might have cancer, they are seen quickly by secondary care.
In 2013, Macmillan Cancer Support, partly funded by the Department, piloted an electronic cancer decision support tool for GPs to use in their routine practice.
The tool covered pancreatic cancers and was designed to help GPs identify patients whom they might not otherwise refer urgently for suspected cancer. Over 400 GP practices across England participated in the pilot. A full evaluation of the pilot is currently being undertaken by Cancer Research UK and the Department's Policy Research Unit and Macmillan Cancer Support is working with GP IT software companies to further develop, promote and disseminate the tool.
At a local level, it is for individual clinical commissioning groups to promote and enhance the diagnostic capability to deliver better outcomes. Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments that may be used for pancreatic cancer are commissioned at the moment by NHS England. NHS England's pancreatic cancer service specification clearly defines what it expects to be in place for providers to offer evidence-based, safe and effective pancreatic cancer services.
NHS England has recently asked NICE to develop a clinical guideline and quality standard on pancreatic cancer. These will complement the existing Improving Outcomes for Upper Gastro-Intestinal Cancers guidance that describes best practice in the delivery of services for patients with all types of upper gastro-intestinal cancer, including pancreatic cancer.
Achieving earlier diagnosis of cancer is key to our ambition to save an additional 5,000 lives per year by 2014-15. However, we know that early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer can be very difficult as the symptoms are shared with a wide range of benign conditions.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer (2005) are available to help general practitioners (GPs) assess when it is appropriate to refer patients for suspected cancer, including pancreatic cancer. NICE is in the process of updating the guidelines to ensure that these reflect latest evidence and can continue to support GPs to identify patients with suspected cancer symptoms and urgently refer them as appropriate. NICE's anticipated publication date for the revised guidelines is May 2015.
The cancer waiting times two week urgent suspected cancer standard – which is included in the NHS Constitution – ensures that, where GPs are concerned that a patient might have cancer, they are seen quickly by secondary care.
In 2013, Macmillan Cancer Support, partly funded by the Department, piloted an electronic cancer decision support tool for GPs to use in their routine practice.
The tool covered pancreatic cancers and was designed to help GPs identify patients whom they might not otherwise refer urgently for suspected cancer. Over 400 GP practices across England participated in the pilot. A full evaluation of the pilot is currently being undertaken by Cancer Research UK and the Department's Policy Research Unit and Macmillan Cancer Support is working with GP IT software companies to further develop, promote and disseminate the tool.
At a local level, it is for individual clinical commissioning groups to promote and enhance the diagnostic capability to deliver better outcomes. Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments that may be used for pancreatic cancer are commissioned at the moment by NHS England. NHS England's pancreatic cancer service specification clearly defines what it expects to be in place for providers to offer evidence-based, safe and effective pancreatic cancer services.
NHS England has recently asked NICE to develop a clinical guideline and quality standard on pancreatic cancer. These will complement the existing Improving Outcomes for Upper Gastro-Intestinal Cancers guidance that describes best practice in the delivery of services for patients with all types of upper gastro-intestinal cancer, including pancreatic cancer.
We have regular contact with the Government of Pakistan at all levels. The most recent high level contact was on 23 September, when the Prime Minister met Prime Minister Imran Khan in the margins of the UN General Assembly. They discussed the strong bilateral relations between the UK and Pakistan, Kashmir, the upcoming visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and regional issues, including tensions with Iran and peace efforts in Afghanistan.
I refer the honourable member to PQ 293428.
We are following the situation in Kashmir closely and are in regular contact with the Governments of India and Pakistan. The Foreign Secretary has raised his concerns about the situation with the Indian Minister for External Affairs Dr Jaishankar. In addition to this the Prime Minister has spoken to both Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Imran Khan about the situation, underlining the importance of maintaining dialogue. Most recently he discussed the issue with Prime Minister Khan in New York on 23 September. The Minister of State responsible for South Asia has also had regular engagement with the Indian and Pakistani High Commissioners and raised the situation in Kashmir with Minister Naqvi during their meeting in New Delhi on 3 October. Events in Kashmir can have regional and international implications and we continue to urge calm and caution from all.
We recognise that there are human rights concerns in both India-administered-Kashmir and Pakistan-administered-Kashmir. We encourage all states to ensure domestic laws are in line with international standards. Any allegation of human rights abuse is deeply concerning and must be investigated thoroughly, promptly and transparently. The continued use of detentions and the continued restrictions on communications are worrying. It is important that individual rights are fully respected and that there is constructive dialogue with affected communities. We have raised our concerns with the Governments of India and Pakistan.
We have regular contact with the Government of India at all levels. The Foreign Secretary met the Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr Jaishankar on 1 August at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Bangkok. The Foreign Ministers discussed a range of issues including UK-India bilateral relations, regional issues and opportunities for the future. They have spoken on the telephone subsequently.
It is longstanding practice under successive Governments that we do not routinely disclose information relating to internal discussion and advice. My right hon. Friend the member for Witham (Ms Patel) resigned as Secretary of State for International Development on 8 November. I refer the Hon Member to the exchange of letters between my right hon. Friend and the Prime Minister on her resignation; and to the statement issued by my right hon. Friend on 6 November, a copy of which is available on the gov.uk website.
The British Government is concerned by the latest developments in Venezuela, in particular the political, economic and security challenges, which are having a serious impact on the human rights of ordinary Venezuelans. I discussed those concerns with Venezuelan Minister for Europe, Samuel Moncada, on 26 October and urged the Venezuela Government to respect the human rights of its citizens.
The United Kingdom co-signed a Joint Statement at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 29 September, expressing international community concern over developments in Venezuela. This Joint Statement was supported by 28 other countries. We have played an active role in preparations for Venezuela's upcoming Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council, submitting a statement of recommendations and posing questions to the Venezuelan Government regarding their human rights record.
Venezuela has been designated a Foreign and Commonwealth Office 'Human Rights Priority Country' for 2016/17. Designation allows us expand our work on human rights and democracy in Venezuela, through bilateral projects supporting political dialogue, women's rights and good governance.
The recently published White Paper on the future immigration system, sets out our intention to continue to attract those who bring a range of skills, including those who make valuable contributions to the enjoyment of faith and community across the UK.
In the future, there will be a single skills-based system. Under current arrangements, which we will look to build on, there are two routes available for non-EU nationals. The first, Tier 2 Ministers of Religion is for those play-ing a leading role as faith leaders in our religious institutions. The second route, Tier 5 Religious Workers is for those undertaking non-pastoral roles supporting the activities of these institutions. We are embarking on an ex-tensive programme of engagement and will be talking to representatives of a range of faith and community groups, including from the Catholic Church.
On 8 March we launched a 12 week public consultation on proposals for a landmark domestic abuse Bill and a supporting package of practical action to transform the response to domestic abuse. The consultation closed on 31 May. Over 3,200 responses to the consultation were received. The responses to the consultation are being considered and a draft Bill will be published later this session.
All UKVI Decision Making Centres follow the same Customer Service Standards when handling visa entry clearance applications.
Customer Service Standards for Settlement for those applying from outside the UK can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration/about-our-services
Documents relating to applications are dispatched to Sheffield by approved couriers who utilise specific tracking systems throughout the process. Where documents are sent directly to Sheffield they are recorded by staff upon receipt.
The specific data requested is not published by the Home Office.
Published data on visa processing times, including the percentage of visas processed within published service standards, is published online at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data (then listed by publication date under ‘UK Visas & Immigration’).
The specific data requested is not published by the Home Office.
Published data on visa processing times, including the percentage of visas processed within published service standards, is published online at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data (then listed by publication date under ‘UK Visas & Immigration’).
The specific data requested is not published by the Home Office.
Published data on visa processing times, including the percentage of visas processed within published service standards, is published online at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data (then listed by publication date under ‘UK Visas & Immigration’).
The specific data requested is not published by the Home Office.
Published data on visa processing times, including the percentage of visas processed within published service standards, is published online at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data (then listed by publication date under ‘UK Visas & Immigration’).
The specific data requested is not published by the Home Office.
Published data on the numbers of visas processed is published online at the following address:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-operations-transparency-data-august-2017 (then listed by publication date under ‘UK Visas & Immigration’).
Evidence of nationality is checked at the point of recruitment into the Civil Service as part of wider pre-employment checks, but there is no requirement on departments to retain this information beyond the point at which it has served its purpose.
It is not a function of the Referred Casework Unit to review the decisions of Entry Clearance Managers. Where an Entry Clearance Manager refers an application to the Referred Casework Unit for decision, the Referred Casework Unit aims to provide a full response within an internal 15 working day service level agreement, unless further enquiries are needed. The requested data on performance against this service level agreement is not available through published statistics. However, locally held management information confirms that from the 1st April 2014 to 30th September 2014 over 99% of referrals were responded to within 15 working days.
Guidance available to Entry Clearance Officers and the Referred Casework Unit on exceptional circumstances and compassionate factors when considering family migration applications is available in the ' Family Life (as a Partner or Parent): 5-Year Routes' guidance which is published on Gov.uk at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/chapter-8-appendix-fm-family-members
The referred Casework Unit also consider ad hoc applications in other visa categories when referred by an Entry Clearance Manager overseas where there are compelling and compassionate circumstances and where there may be consideration given to a grant of leave to enter outside the rules.
The Home Office apologises that the Honourable Gentleman did not receive a Ministerial response to his representations dated 6 October.
This was due to a Home Office administrative error. Officials have beenreminded of the correct procedure to follow when a MP makes personal
representations to the Minister. A response from the Minister has now been sent to the Honourable Gentleman.
Cabinet Office sets guidance for officials dealing with correspondence from MPs. Details of this guidance can be found on the Home Office website at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/managing-mps-correspondences
For 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014, UK Visas and Immigration replied to
correspondence from hon. Members within an average of 26 days. Information on
the average time taken to reply to urgent visa cases is not recorded centrally
and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Guidance is available to all staff involved in responding to correspondence from hon. Members. This guidance explains when it is appropriate for staff to contact the business unit dealing with the case.
Additionally, the Home Office have issued an Information Fact Sheet – ‘Family Visit Visa Information Fact Sheet for Members of Parliament acting on behalf of their constituents’ to hon. Members. The Information Fact Sheet is available on the Home Office MP website.
Officials within UK Visas and Immigration review all representations to the Director General and where appropriate they will liaise with the overseas post to request a review of the decision. The case that the Hon. Member recently raised has been referred to post for review.
On 8 March we launched a 12 week public consultation on proposals for a landmark domestic abuse Bill and a supporting package of practical action to transform the response to domestic abuse. The consultation closed on 31 May. Over 3,200 responses to the consultation were received. The responses to the consultation are being considered and a draft Bill will be published later this session.
Redbridge has been allocated £5,280,506 for 2018-19 as part of the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant. The Rough Sleeping Initiative have also allocated Redbridge £485,250 for 2018-19 with a further £500,000 provisionally allocated for 2019-20 to tackle rough sleeping specifically. In addition, both the Move On Fund and Cold Weather Fund are open to local authorities for proposals to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.
The Government is committed to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping. No one should ever have to sleep rough and that is why, this summer, we published the cross-government Rough Sleeping Strategy. This sets out an ambitious £100 million package to help people who sleep rough now, but also puts in place the structures that will end rough sleeping once and for all. The Government has now committed over £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the spending review period.
My Department has been working with the Ministry of Justice, who in turn have been working with the Information Commissioner, on changes to the rules about local authority members' notifying the Information Commissioner's Office that they are data controllers, to ensure that any new rules both remove bureaucratic burdens whilst ensuring that local authority members who are data controllers remain aware of their duties and obligations as data controllers.
The Home Office is the lead Department in relation to these issues. I understand that the Minister of State for Immigration wrote to faith leaders in mid-December, setting out both the detail and rationale for the changes and guidance is currently being prepared.
Under the current Immigration Rules there are two routes available for non-EU nationals. The first, Tier 2 Ministers of Religion, is for those playing a leading role as faith leaders in our religious institutions. The second route, Tier 5 Religious Workers, is for those undertaking non-pastoral roles supporting the activities of these institutions. Our intention is to continue to attract those who bring a range of skills, including those who make valuable contributions to the enjoyment of faith and community across the UK.
Late last year I met Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Glasgow and President of the Bishops’ Conference, and discussed a number of issues with him, including the UK’s forthcoming exit from the European Union. Since then the Government has published its White Paper on the future immigration system, and I fully expect the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland will wish to engage with the Home Office on its particular circumstances and requirements.