Improving the UK Visa System
Debate between Mike Tapp and Robbie Moore(1 week, 1 day ago)
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Mike Tapp
Let me just make a little progress. I will touch on fisheries. I have had important meetings with the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon), and we are working to ensure that we come to the right conclusion on that. We have provided whaleboat fishermen —and sheep shearers—with concessions, but I think the agricultural sector needs a more holistic approach, and we are absolutely looking at that and working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Before my time comes to an end—my apologies if I have not been able to get through all the many points that were made—I will talk about earned settlement, which is vital. Someone who is looking to settle has to contribute to and integrate into the country. We saw unprecedented numbers arrive, as I have already detailed—I will not go through that again. We have had a massive consultation—the 200,000 responses are being analysed—and I and the Home Secretary will make it our personal mission to ensure that we provide a system that is firm but also fair and that absolutely rewards contribution, because that is what makes this country great.
A number of hon. Members raised specific cases with me. Please can we talk about those afterwards rather than trying to address them in this debate?
Robbie Moore
I appreciate that the Minister is short for time. Will he write to me in response to my question about the loophole associated with domestic abuse claims?
Mike Tapp
I will touch on it very quickly. I think “loophole” is a misrepresentation; I think it is an abuse of the system. We have new guidance, which came out in March, but there are other abuses—for example, those who say that they are gay when they are not—and we are ensuring that we deal with that.
I will conclude now, with apologies to Members that I could not get through all their many points, but we can of course talk outside the Chamber.