Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Public Space Protection Orders have been issued by local authorities in response to covid-19 anti-vaccination protests outside school gates.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The use of Public Spaces Protection Orders are matters for Local Authorities. The Home Office does not centrally collate data on the use of Antisocial Behaviour powers, including Public Spaces Protection Orders.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has held discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on the targeting of schools by anti-vaccine protestors.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Officials at the Home Office have been working closely with counterparts at the Department of Education on the issue of anti-vaccination protests outside of schools.
The Department for Education and the UK Health Security Agency have provided information in guidance for schools on how to handle any misinformation or disruption. Furthermore, the police have comprehensive powers to intervene should protesters contravene the law.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department has spent on the use of hotels to house asylum-seeking children in Hove since January 2021.
Answered by Kevin Foster
Accommodation costs are considered to be commercially confidential, therefore the Home Office does not publish this information.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average waiting time was for an initial decision on an asylum case made by an unaccompanied minor in (a) 2017, (b) 2018, (c) 2019, (d) 2020 and (e) the first six months of 2021.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Home Office is unable to state what the average waiting time was for an initial decision on an asylum case made by an unaccompanied minor in (a) 2017, (b) 2018, (c) 2019 and (d) 2020 and (e) the first six months of 2021 as the Home Office does not publish this information and to do so would incur disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what resources she plans to make available to schools to prevent anti-vaccine protestors disrupting pupils and staff.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The right to peaceful protest is a vital part of a democratic society. However, this does not extend to unlawful behaviour and it is never acceptable for anyone to intimidate pupils and teachers. Should a protest contravene the law, the police have comprehensive powers to deal with activities that spread hate or deliberately raise tensions through violence or public disorder. The use of these powers and the management of demonstrations are an operational matter for the police.
Through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, the Government is introducing new measures which will allow the police to take a more proactive approach in managing highly disruptive protests.
Separately, the Department for Education and the UK Health Security Agency have provided information in guidance for schools on how to handle any misinformation or disruption. In the event of a protest or disruptive activity outside a school, or if schools know a protest is planned, they should alert the School Age Immunisation Service provider, local authority and local police contacts to discuss the best way to manage the situation.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 28 September 2021 to Question 51784, for what reason her Department does not hold a record of the number of overseas fee waiver applications her Department has received since March 2021.
Answered by Kevin Foster
Home Office Migration Statistics do not currently capture the number of applications for overseas fee waivers received or placed on hold since the previous policy was suspended.
This will be revisited very shortly.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 15 September 2021 to Question 45845, if she will publish the guidance used by caseworkers to determine whether an applicant for an overseas fee waiver has an urgent need to travel to the UK.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The overseas fee waiver policy is being revised to include an assessment of affordability for specified applications on the human rights route.
The revised policy is expected to be published by the end of 2021.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will authorise entry clearance without biometrics for visa applications from Afghan nationals in (a) Afghanistan and (b) countries bordering Afghanistan.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
A policy statement onAfghanistan resettlement and immigration was published on 13 September.
We do not comment on security matters, but security checks underpin the UK’s immigration system and help identify against immigration and criminality records to prevent leave being granted to those who pose a harm to national security or are likely to breach our laws.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 15 September 2021 to Question 45845 on the revised policy on overseas fee waivers, whether applications from Afghanistan will be assessed to see if they meet the criteria for urgent applications before being automatically placed on hold.
Answered by Kevin Foster
In line with the current policy on overseas fee waivers and with reference to Question 45845, applicants can still apply for an overseas fee waiver, but the application will be placed on hold pending the revised guidance. If an application is received and it is clear the applicant’s need to travel to the UK is urgent, the application will be considered. This applies to all nationalities, including Afghan nationals.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 15 September 2021 to Question 45845 on the revised policy on overseas fee waivers, what proportion of applications for overseas fee waivers have been (a) treated as urgent applications and (b) placed on hold since the previous policy was suspended pending revision.
Answered by Kevin Foster
Home Office Migration Statistics do not currently capture the number of applications for overseas fee waivers received or placed on hold since the previous policy was suspended.