First elected: 7th May 2015
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
Reduce Indefinite leave to remain fees from £2389 to £243 for Health workers
Gov Responded - 1 Feb 2022 Debated on - 30 Jan 2023 View 's petition debate contributionsThe Home office is charging almost ten times the actual processing cost of indefinite leave to remain application fee from overseas health care workers. The Government should stop making profit from foreign health workers and instead seek to retain those foreign doctors and nurses in our NHS.
Release the Home Office's Grooming Gang Review in full
Gov Responded - 19 May 2020 Debated on - 3 Feb 2021 View 's petition debate contributionsThe Government is refusing to release official research on the characteristics of grooming gangs, claiming it is not in the “public interest”.
We, the British public, demand the release of the official research on grooming gangs undertaken by the Government in full.
We the British People Request a Public Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Gov Responded - 5 Nov 2020 Debated on - 3 Feb 2021 View 's petition debate contributionsThe Home Secretary said what happened to victims of child sexual exploitation gangs was “one of the biggest stains on our country’s conscience.” Last year local authorities identified 18,700 suspected victims of child sexual exploitation. We want an independent public inquiry into Grooming Gangs.
These initiatives were driven by Stuart C McDonald, 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.
A Bill to make provision about leave and pay for employees with responsibility for children receiving neonatal care.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 24th May 2023 and was enacted into law.
Refugees (Family Reunion) (No. 2) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Angus Brendan MacNeil (Ind)
No one in this country should be harmed or harassed for who they are and attempts at so-called ‘conversion therapy’ are abhorrent. That is why we are carefully considering this very complex issue. We will be setting out further details on this in due course
On average the department spends £348,089.16 on communications staff. We have 7 staff dedicated to communications all of which are full time employees.
On average the department spends £348,089.16 on communications staff. We have 7 staff dedicated to communications all of which are full time employees.
On average the department spends £348,089.16 on communications staff. We have 7 staff dedicated to communications all of which are full time employees.
The Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Home Office Immigration Enforcement in 2016 will be published on the CPS website in January 2021. In the meantime, I will ensure that a copy is placed in the House library.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains a central record of the number of offences in which a prosecution commenced, including the offences charged by way of the Immigration Act 1971.
During the last 10 years, up to the end of March 2020, the number of offences charged by way of section 25 of the Immigration Act 1971 is as follows:
| Immigration Act 1971 { 25(1) } | Immigration Act 1971 { 25(2) } | Immigration Act 1971 { 25(A)(1) } | Immigration Act 1971 { 25(B)(1) } |
2010-2011 | 397 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
2011-2012 | 390 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
2012-2013 | 430 | 0 | 13 | 2 |
2013-2014 | 311 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
2014-2015 | 382 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
2015-2016 | 321 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
2016-2017 | 440 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
2017-2018 | 330 | 1 | 14 | 0 |
2018-2019 | 295 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
2019-2020 | 273 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System |
There is no indication of the number of individual defendants prosecuted for these offences or the final outcome of the prosecution proceeding or if the charged offence was the substantive charge at the time of finalisation. It is often the case that defendants will be prosecuted for more than one offence in the same set of proceedings.
It is not possible to separately report whether any offences involved the use or control of a vessel at sea other than by manually examining case files at disproportionate cost.
The Law Officers have not issued any guidance, advice or instructions to Crown Prosecution Service lawyers on prosecutions under section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 in the last 18 months. However, the CPS has clear and published policy guidance on the prosecution of immigration offences, which reflects the Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the CPS and Home Office Immigration Enforcement in 2016. This establishes the agreed approach and public interest factors which prosecutors must consider when reviewing immigration cases. No further recent guidance has been issued to Crown Prosecutors on section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971.
Neither the Attorney General's Office nor the CPS have received representations from the Home Office on prosecutions under section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 in the last 18 months. The joint approach between the CPS and Immigration Enforcement is to consider prosecution under section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 for anyone who has been involved in organising and planning the offences.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains a central record of the number of offences in which a prosecution commenced, including the offences charged by way of the Immigration Act 1971.
During the last 10 years, up to the end of March 2020, the number of offences charged by way of section 25 of the Immigration Act 1971 is as follows:
| Immigration Act 1971 { 25(1) } | Immigration Act 1971 { 25(2) } | Immigration Act 1971 { 25(A)(1) } | Immigration Act 1971 { 25(B)(1) } |
2010-2011 | 397 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
2011-2012 | 390 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
2012-2013 | 430 | 0 | 13 | 2 |
2013-2014 | 311 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
2014-2015 | 382 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
2015-2016 | 321 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
2016-2017 | 440 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
2017-2018 | 330 | 1 | 14 | 0 |
2018-2019 | 295 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
2019-2020 | 273 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System |
There is no indication of the number of individual defendants prosecuted for these offences or the final outcome of the prosecution proceeding or if the charged offence was the substantive charge at the time of finalisation. It is often the case that defendants will be prosecuted for more than one offence in the same set of proceedings.
It is not possible to separately report whether any offences involved the use or control of a vessel at sea other than by manually examining case files at disproportionate cost.
The Law Officers have not issued any guidance, advice or instructions to Crown Prosecution Service lawyers on prosecutions under section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 in the last 18 months. However, the CPS has clear and published policy guidance on the prosecution of immigration offences, which reflects the Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the CPS and Home Office Immigration Enforcement in 2016. This establishes the agreed approach and public interest factors which prosecutors must consider when reviewing immigration cases. No further recent guidance has been issued to Crown Prosecutors on section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971.
Neither the Attorney General's Office nor the CPS have received representations from the Home Office on prosecutions under section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 in the last 18 months. The joint approach between the CPS and Immigration Enforcement is to consider prosecution under section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 for anyone who has been involved in organising and planning the offences.
On 12 May, the Prime Minister confirmed that a public inquiry into COVID-19 would be established on a statutory basis, with full formal powers, and that it will begin its work in spring 2022.
Further details will be set out in due course.
As referenced in the Government’s response to questions asked on 23 November, the Government is committed to protecting the rights of resident EU nationals, and their family members, to enable them to live and work here as they do now after the end of the transition period. This includes maintaining the rights and opportunities of those with status under the EU Settlement Scheme to be eligible for employment in non-reserved posts within the Civil Service.
The Government remains committed to protecting the rights of resident EU nationals, and their family members, to enable them to live and work here as they do now when free movement is ended. This includes the rights of those currently working in the Civil Service and we will be updating the Civil Service Nationality Rules before the end of the year.
The Government remains committed to protecting the rights of resident EU nationals, and their family members, to enable them to live and work here as they do now when free movement is ended. This includes the rights of those currently working in the Civil Service and we will be updating the Civil Service Nationality Rules before the end of the year.
It is not appropriate to comment on a case that is currently subject to ongoing legal proceedings.
The Government is considering new ways to protect consumers in the energy market as stated in the Autumn Statement. These changes will apply from April 2024. As part of the wider retail market reforms the Government will engage with consumer groups and industry stakeholders One option that will be considered will be a social tariff.
The Government’s Energy Price Guarantee will bring a typical household bill down to the equivalent of around £2500 per year from 1 October 2022 to end of March 2023 (with equivalent support in NI). From April 2023, the Energy Price Guarantee will be adjusted to cap typical household bills at £3,000 until the end of March 2024. Additionally, the Energy Bills Support Scheme will provide electricity customers in Great Britain with £400 off their bills from October 2022.
Ofgem Standard Licence Conditions require suppliers to ensure that prepayment meters are only installed where it is ‘safe and reasonably practicable’ - including consideration of whether a consumer’s vulnerability makes a prepayment meter a poor choice, for example where medical equipment is required.
£100 provides comparable support to a typical household using heating oil as that provided to a gas heated household benefiting from the Energy Price Guarantee. The Government is working at speed to deliver robust support for off-grid non-domestic consumers and will publish more details in due course.
The UK has a comprehensive consumer safety and protection regulatory framework that covers button batteries, with obligations on producers, manufacturers, importers and distributors to ensure their products are safe before they are placed on the market.
The safety of button batteries is regulated by the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (GPSR) and there are specific requirements on button batteries used in toys under the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.
The Government commissioned the British Standards Institution (BSI) to publish a Publicly Available Specification (PAS) standard on the safe use of button batteries. Developed with technical experts drawn from a wide range of stakeholders including consumers and businesses, it was published on 30 April this year and specifies safety requirements for button and coin batteries to mitigate the risk of ingestion.
We will continue to work with stakeholders and other interested parties to assess how technologies such as bittering agents and any other options available can be used to enhance safety.
The Government is intending to support the development of at least two Carbon Capture Usage and Storage (CCUS) clusters to support the energy transition at industrial sites across the UK. This process is ongoing with an announcement expected later this year.
Employers are only required to notify my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State if they are proposing making more than 20 people redundant. However, the Office for National Statistics produce detailed statistics on redundancies by industry and individual characteristics.
There are laws in place to ensure that any redundancy process should be fair and reasonable with appropriate equalities considerations. Employees with the necessary qualifying service who believe that they have been unfairly selected for redundancy, or that the redundancy was unfair in some other way, can complain to an employment tribunal who will make an assessment. The Government publishes quarterly tribunal statistics, including on unfair dismissal and discrimination claims.
The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) has been introduced to help small and medium-sized businesses to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000. Businesses are not required to bank with their provider in order to be eligible for a loan under the Bounce Back Loans Scheme (BBLS).
It is also not a requirement of the Scheme for businesses to operate via a business account. However, some lenders may request that an applicant opens a business account in line with their standard policies. This is at the sole discretion of the lender. There are now 14 lenders accredited under the scheme, providing more choice for SMEs. Details of accredited lenders can be found on the British Business Bank’s website.
In order to apply for the scheme, businesses need to complete a short, simple online application form. A lender may consider paying funds into a personal current account if no business bank account is held, if it has been satisfactorily evidenced that the personal current account is being used for business purposes. In some cases, borrowers may need to include their 2018-19 HMRC self-assessment tax return alongside the form to verify their status as a business.
The Government regularly engages with manufacturers and manufacturing trade associations on opportunities to support the growth and competitiveness of manufacturing sectors in the UK. Ultimately, the proposed closure of Cummins’ Cumbernauld factory is a commercial decision for the company.
The correspondence referred to is currently receiving attention. A reply will be issued shortly.
In October 2019, the Gambling Commission called on the industry to work together to develop a single customer view which could support interventions across multiple operators to prevent harmful gambling. The Commission has since worked closely with the Information Commissioner’s Office and the industry to progress the work. The project is currently entering a pilot stage with GAMSTOP, which operates the national online self-exclusion scheme, as technical provider.
The Government and the Commission will monitor the progress of the trials closely, and further information will be published in due course. The Gambling Commission’s most recent update surrounding progress and next steps can be found here.
In October 2019, the Gambling Commission called on the industry to work together to develop a single customer view which could support interventions across multiple operators to prevent harmful gambling. The Commission has since worked closely with the Information Commissioner’s Office and the industry to progress the work. The project is currently entering a pilot stage with GAMSTOP, which operates the national online self-exclusion scheme, as technical provider.
The Government and the Commission will monitor the progress of the trials closely, and further information will be published in due course. The Gambling Commission’s most recent update surrounding progress and next steps can be found here.
Public Health England (PHE)’s evidence review of gambling-related harms estimated that the annual direct cost to the government associated with people who are problem gamblers was approximately £647 million per year, although it was unable to make a direct assessment of the cost of gambling harm specifically. Our Review of the Gambling Act aims to ensure that the protections in place to prevent harm are appropriate and effective for the digital age. It is looking at issues around research as part of its broad scope.
The future of the over 75 concession, including cost, is now a matter for the BBC following the passage of the Digital Economy Act 2017.
The government remains deeply disappointed with the BBC's decision to restrict the over 75 licence fee concession to only those in receipt of pension credit. We recognise the value of free TV licences for over 75s and believe they should be funded by the BBC.
The BBC also remains responsible for enforcing and administering the TV licence. The BBC must ensure that it supports those affected by its decision on the over 75s concession and we expect it to do so with the utmost sensitivity.
Children who have recently arrived from Afghanistan are entitled to full time education and one of the department’s priorities is to ensure they receive it. The duty to provide sufficient education for all school-age children rests with local authorities and the government is working closely with local authorities where Afghan families reside to ensure they can access education as soon as possible.
The department is urgently making available additional funds to local authorities to provide educational support and help Afghan children and young people settle into their local schools and communities.
The department cannot set an end date as Afghan families continue to come into the UK. We are working with departments across government and local authorities to ensure the availability of school places are taken into account as new families arrive and are settled into the country.
Children who have recently arrived from Afghanistan are entitled to full time education and one of the department’s priorities is to ensure they receive it. The duty to provide sufficient education for all school-age children rests with local authorities and the government is working closely with local authorities where Afghan families reside to ensure they can access education as soon as possible.
The department is urgently making available additional funds to local authorities to provide educational support and help Afghan children and young people settle into their local schools and communities.
The department cannot set an end date as Afghan families continue to come into the UK. We are working with departments across government and local authorities to ensure the availability of school places are taken into account as new families arrive and are settled into the country.
The chair and expert panel were directly appointed by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs based on a set of criteria, including for their knowledge and expertise covering farming, fisheries, processing and manufacturing aspects of the supply chain. Since it was an independent review, Defra is not responsible for commenting on the specific evidence used to shape the final report, but notes that the Review does contain a Methodology section with more information that may be of interest. However, Defra does undertake an annual survey of workers involved in the Seasonal Worker visa route and this information was made available to the review team.
The chair and expert panel were directly appointed by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs based on a set of criteria, including their expertise in the food and farming sector. This method of appointment is common practice for independent reviews commissioned by HM Government.
Now that the final report has been published, we will look closely at the findings and set out our response in the Autumn.
We cannot publish any numbers with regards to the Seasonal Workers visa route which are outside of official approved Home Office published statistics. Details of the numbers of visas granted for seasonal workers, through the Seasonal Worker visa route, have been published in the usual way via the Home Office’s quarterly immigration statistics.
We cannot publish any numbers with regards to the Seasonal Workers visa route which are outside of official approved Home Office published statistics. Details of the numbers of visas granted for seasonal workers, through the Seasonal Worker visa route, have been published in the usual way via the Home Office’s quarterly immigration statistics.
We cannot publish any numbers with regards to the Seasonal Workers visa route which are outside of official approved Home Office published statistics. Details of the numbers of visas granted for seasonal workers, through the Seasonal Worker visa route, have been published in the usual way via the Home Office's quarterly immigration statistics.
The Government committed in its manifesto to introduce a ban on the import of hunting trophies from endangered species. The COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the publication of the Government response to the recent consultation and call for evidence on controls on the import and export of hunting trophies. We will set out our plans for action on this important area as soon as it is practical to do so.
On 22 December 2020, the Government extended the Seasonal Workers Pilot for one year and expanded the number of visas from 10,000 to 30,000.
The extension and expansion of the Pilot for 2021 will allow for further evaluation of the pilot, including how growers will reduce their reliance on migrant labour now we have left the EU, whilst also easing some of the pressure felt on farms when they are at their busiest. The first-year evaluation information will be published later this year.
Defra is working closely with industry and the Home Office to better understand the effectiveness of interventions and to ensure there is a long-term strategy for the food and farming workforce beyond 2021.
On 22 December 2020, the Government extended the Seasonal Workers Pilot for one year and expanded the number of visas from 10,000 to 30,000.
The extension and expansion of the Pilot for 2021 will allow for further evaluation of the pilot, including how growers will reduce their reliance on migrant labour now we have left the EU, whilst also easing some of the pressure felt on farms when they are at their busiest. The first-year evaluation information will be published later this year.
Defra is working closely with industry and the Home Office – who engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including non-governmental organisations, when designing and implementing immigration policy – to better understand the effectiveness of interventions and to ensure there is a long-term strategy for the food and farming workforce beyond 2021.
This Government is committed to upholding our high environmental, food safety and animal welfare standards as we leave the EU. The EU Withdrawal Act will transfer all existing food safety provisions, including existing import requirements, onto the UK statute book after the Transition Period. These requirements include a ban on using artificial growth hormones in domestic and imported products, and set out that no products, other than potable water, are approved to decontaminate poultry carcasses.
Our manifesto is clear that in all of our trade negotiations, we will not compromise on our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards.
We are already engaging with the agricultural sector as part of our trade discussions and we will continue to work closely with the National Farmers’ Union and other relevant stakeholders across the food chain to understand the concerns about the impact of new trade deals, as well as the opportunities. The Government has in place a range of stakeholder groups to feed into our policy development on trade. These include the Strategic Trade Advisory Group, the Agri-Food Expert Trade Advisory Group and various supply chain groups.
It is the responsibility of the UK Government to negotiate international agreements, and it is vital that we retain appropriate flexibility to proceed with negotiations at pace.
We are nevertheless clear that the devolved administrations should be closely involved in the process. We have already engaged extensively with them in negotiation preparations, and will continue to do so. There is no need to set out in statute a course of action we are already pursuing.
Last Thursday, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Lord Callanan, Minister of State for the Department for Exiting the European Union, met with Mike Russell at the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU negotiations.
The power in clause 11(3) will be used to ensure that the Special Immigration Appeals Commission is able to hear a review of an exclusion direction made on national security grounds in relation to an individual within the scope of the EU Settlement Scheme.
There is no intention to use the power in clause 11 to limit the scope or availability of judicial review.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency is committed to reducing the backlog of driving tests as quickly as possible. It has measures in place to increase the number of driving tests available, once it is safe for tests to resume. These include offering overtime and annual leave buy back to examiners, asking all those qualified to carry out tests (warrant card holders) to do so, and conducting out of hours testing (such as on public holidays). A recruitment campaign is also underway to increase the overall number of driving examiners available for testing.
The Road Traffic Act 1988 only allows a full driving licence to be issued if the person has passed the test of competence to drive. The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) 1999 regulations requires driving test examiners to meet certain criteria and pass an initial qualification and examination before being authorised by the Secretary of State to conduct practical driving tests. The regulations also specifically prohibit an examiner from simultaneously being an active approved driving instructor (ADI).
Although ADIs are well qualified and proficient in driving and instruction, they are not experienced assessors and this is evidenced by the current practical test pass rate of 47%. Driving examiners undertake rigorous and continuing training throughout their career. They also test many types of learners and are regularly evaluated to ensure they conduct tests in a fair and consistent manner.
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Public Health Information for Passengers Travelling to England) Regulations 2020 were laid on 8 June 2020. These regulations require carriers to ensure that passengers who arrive at a port on a relevant service are provided with information about coronavirus, and related duties and public health guidance.
Guidance for these regulations can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-requirements-to-provide-public-health-information-to-passengers-travelling-to-england
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Pre-Departure Testing and Operator Liability) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 require transport operators to ensure that all passengers aged 11 and over travelling from outside the Common Travel Area to England have proof of a negative test result before permitting them to board. They will need to check the test result notification of each passenger ahead of boarding.
Guidance for operators has been circulated which sets out the requirements in detail.
The Government is actively working on the practicalities of using testing to release people from self-isolation earlier than 14 days. The Global Travel Taskforce is working at pace to consider how testing, technology and innovation can drive a recovery for international travel and tourism, without adding to infection risk or infringing on our overall NHS test capacity.
The two-year validity period of the approved driving instructor (ADI) qualification process is set in legislation and the Government has decided not to lay further legislation to extend it. This is to ensure a potential driving instructor’s road safety knowledge and hazard perception skills are up to date to help them prepare for their remaining qualifying tests and deliver effective instruction once they have joined the ADI register.
No such assessment has been made. We will be bringing forward legislation for the 23/24 Cost of Living Payments in due course.
I refer the Hon and Rt Hon Members to the answer I gave on 13 December 2022 to Question UIN 106507.
The fatality rate in agriculture is a concern to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which has a long-term strategy to drive industry ownership of the challenge and influence behaviour.
Since 2018, HSE has run an annual programme of delivering training to farmers in advance of targeted proactive inspection. This sits alongside specific interventions on the management of cattle and, during 2022/23, the management of electrocution risk from overhead power lines.
HSE continues engagement activity with a full range of stakeholders through the Farm Safety Partnerships. The latest activity includes work on child safety, management of cattle in fields with public rights of way, farm transport and the safe use of quad bikes. HSE also regularly holds formal consultations with the industry about its initiatives through the Agriculture Industry Advisory Committee.
HSE publishes an annual report detailing the main causes of fatal incidents in agriculture, forestry and fishing in Great Britain. The report covering the period of 2021/22 is available via HSE’s website.
The table below shows the number of agricultural inspections* conducted by HSE in each of the last five annual reporting periods (figures available from HSE systems as yearly figures):
Year** | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 (inspections ongoing) |
Number of inspections | 572 | 772 | 706 | 229 | 398 | 179 |
*Figures have been provided for agriculture inspections. The number may include a small number of non-farm premises.
**HSE systems able to generate figures for each calendar year e.g., 2018 rather than work year e.g., 2017/18.
The fatality rate in agriculture is a concern to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which has a long-term strategy to drive industry ownership of the challenge and influence behaviour.
Since 2018, HSE has run an annual programme of delivering training to farmers in advance of targeted proactive inspection. This sits alongside specific interventions on the management of cattle and, during 2022/23, the management of electrocution risk from overhead power lines.
HSE continues engagement activity with a full range of stakeholders through the Farm Safety Partnerships. The latest activity includes work on child safety, management of cattle in fields with public rights of way, farm transport and the safe use of quad bikes. HSE also regularly holds formal consultations with the industry about its initiatives through the Agriculture Industry Advisory Committee.
HSE publishes an annual report detailing the main causes of fatal incidents in agriculture, forestry and fishing in Great Britain. The report covering the period of 2021/22 is available via HSE’s website.
The table below shows the number of agricultural inspections* conducted by HSE in each of the last five annual reporting periods (figures available from HSE systems as yearly figures):
Year** | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 (inspections ongoing) |
Number of inspections | 572 | 772 | 706 | 229 | 398 | 179 |
*Figures have been provided for agriculture inspections. The number may include a small number of non-farm premises.
**HSE systems able to generate figures for each calendar year e.g., 2018 rather than work year e.g., 2017/18.
Following the end of the grace period on 30 June 2021, EU, EEA and Swiss citizens have been required to have a valid UK immigration status in order to access non-contributory benefits, such as Universal Credit.
As part of our extensive efforts to contact all those believed to be without status, people naturalised as British citizens, Irish citizens or with an existing valid immigration status may have received letters asking them to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). The letters urged people with an immigration status to contact DWP to confirm their status and no action was taken with respect to their benefit payments as a consequence of receiving these letters.
We have since updated our data lists to ensure people with an existing immigration status do not receive further correspondence. No action will be taken to suspend or terminate the benefits of people with a valid immigration status.
The Department’s extensive engagement with this cohort, including targeted letters, outbound calls, SMS text messages, digital journal messages, face to face appointments and home visits, has been to ensure that people acquire the correct status and maintain their benefit entitlement by doing so.
Before suspending a claim, DWP officials will seek information on the customer’s immigration status held by the Home Office and contact the customer themselves to determine whether or not an individual holds a valid immigration status, or has applied to the EU Settlement Scheme. These steps are repeated at the termination stage, to ensure claims are not closed for individuals who hold a valid immigration status.
a) Claimants move from existing benefits to Universal Credit when they experience a significant change in their circumstances that triggers a new claim to benefit. We do not centrally collate the number of claimants that have made a new claim to Universal Credit as a result of such a change in circumstances.
Data surrounding Universal Credit caseload growth at national, regional and constituency level is published at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk
Guidance for users is available at:
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html
b) The Move to UC Pilot has been temporarily suspended following the outbreak of COVID-19.
As part of the Government’s strategy to support people affected by the COVID-19 public health emergency, DWP is making a number of changes to its benefit processes to ensure people who need financial help have access to the benefit system.
Universal Credit New Claims Advances are available to support those in immediate financial need until their first Universal Credit payment is made and the Department is committed to delivering advances as soon as possible to claimants who have requested them. Face-to-face checks for Universal Credit advances have been suspended and claimants can apply for an advance by phone or online without attending their Jobcentre.
Universal Credit is already much more generous than the legacy benefit system it replaces. From 6th April 2020, we have increased the standard allowance for everyone by over £80 a month for one year. This is on top of the existing 1.7% increase already announced. The increase in the Universal Credit standard allowance provides additional support to claimants in order to help them manage the economic impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak, including the repayment of new claim advances.
The Government has reduced the maximum deduction from 40% to 30% of a claimant’s standard allowance from October 2019 and this will be further reduced to 25% from October 2021. The repayment time for advances has already been extended from 6 months to 12 months, and will be further extended to 24 months from October 2021.
If a claimant is in financial difficulty as a result of the level of deductions being made they can contact the Department to request that a reduction in deductions be considered. Any adjustment to repayments will be based on the individual circumstances of the claimant.
As both the Prime Minister and Chancellor have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID 19 and we have been clear in our intention that no one should be penalised for doing the right thing. These are rapidly developing circumstances, we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.
As both the Prime Minister and Chancellor have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID 19 and we have been clear in our intention that no one should be penalised for doing the right thing. These are rapidly developing circumstances, we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.
No assessment has been made.
The Government is committed to tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and reducing the risk of drug-resistant infections for all people. In 2019, the Government published a 20-Year Vision to effectively contain, control and mitigate AMR by 2040, and the first in a series of five-year national action plans to support the Vision.
No specific assessment has been made.
The Government is committed to tackling antimicrobial resistance and reducing the risk of drug-resistant infections for all people. In 2019, the Government published a 20-Year Vision to effectively contain, control and mitigate antimicrobial resistance by 2040, and the first in a series of five-year national action plans to support the Vision is available at the following link:
www.gov.uk/government/collections/antimicrobial-resistance-amr-information-and-resources
Information for healthcare professionals on meeting the health needs of migrants is available in the Migrant Health Guide, which is produced by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities is available at the following link:
www.gov.uk/government/collections/migrant-health-guide
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) provides guidance for healthcare professionals on managing infectious diseases in all migrants through the Migrant Health Guide. The guide provides detailed information on screening by infection type and is regularly reviewed. UKHSA also provides specific guidance on infectious diseases in the asylum seeker population, including information for testing for antimicrobial resistance in diphtheria cases is available at the following link:
www.gov.uk/guidance/infectious-diseases-in-asylum-seekers-actions-for-health-professionals
Vaccine certification between countries and territories varies considerably, therefore we ensure that certificates or apps meet our published minimum requirements on content and that carriers are clear about the certification we can accept.
The vaccine certificate, either digital or paper, must be issued by a national or state-level public health authority and be in English, French or Spanish. As a minimum, it must include the holders’ forename and surname(s), date of birth, vaccine brand and manufacturer, date of vaccination for every dose and country or territory of vaccination and/or certificate issue.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before prorogation.
Public Health England (PHE) supported the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) to review emerging evidence on vitamin D and the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in spring 2020. The review concluded that there was currently no robust evidence to support taking vitamin D supplements to reduce the risk or severity of COVID-19. The review is available at the following link:
In autumn 2020, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and PHE were asked to re-consider the evidence on vitamin D and COVID-19. The resulting rapid guideline on vitamin D and COVID-19 reiterated existing advice for everyone to take a daily 10 microgram supplement of vitamin D during winter months and noted that there was not enough evidence on vitamin D and the prevention or treatment of COVID-19. However, NICE, PHE and the SACN will monitor emerging evidence on this issue. The guideline on vitamin D and COVID-19 is available at the following link:
The Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI) has advised that for Phase 1 of the COVID-19 vaccine programme, the vaccine first be given to care home residents and staff and those over 80 years old, followed by health and social workers, then to the rest of the population in order of age and clinical risk factors.
Asylum seekers have the same access to the COVID-19 vaccine as the rest of the population. If they have not done so already, they should register with a general practice, and if they have health conditions that would make them clinically vulnerable or clinically extremely vulnerable then that should be recorded.
The negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom are ongoing. The UK has been engaged continuously and constructively in those negotiations, and issues which affect the health and social care sector play an important part in them. We must not prejudge the outcome of those negotiations.
The Department published a United Kingdom-wide consultation on the proposed mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid which ran from 13 June to 9 September 2019. A post-consultation update was made available on the GOV.UK website. We received 1,442 responses from a wide range of stakeholders. Publication of the consultation response has been delayed due to COVID-19 related work taking priority. We will publish our response as soon as possible.
This information is not available in the format requested.
The Government is working with industry, the National Health Service, social care providers and the army to ensure the supply of key medical equipment for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak. We are in active discussions with the European Union Commission on future shared procurement opportunities and we will decide whether to participate in each on the basis of public health requirements at the time. We are exploring all procurement options for medical equipment to give the NHS and the social care sector everything they need to tackle this outbreak.
International data shows that the hospitalisation rate is greatest in the vulnerable, including those aged 70 and older. Asking this group to be most stringent with social distancing is important for reducing the pressure on intensive care beds. The United Kingdom policy is based on a review of the scientific evidence by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies at the following link:
I have expressed the UK's deep disappointment with the decision of the Parliament of Uganda on 21 March 2023 to pass the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. The UK is alarmed by the increasing criminalization of LGBT+ people in Uganda. This Bill threatens minority rights and risks persecution and discrimination of all people across Uganda. Amendments to the Bill, including introduction of the death penalty for 'aggravated homosexuality', are very worrying. The UK Government is firmly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country.
The UK is one of the leading donors in supporting refugees in Jordan and has contributed over £704 million in bilateral development assistance to Jordan since 2011. We recognise the pressure of water scarcity in Jordan and are helping the Government of Jordan reform its energy and water sectors to be more financial and environmentally sustainable, which will benefit refugees and Jordanians alike. The UK is supporting Jordan's adaptation through the PHENOMENAL programme, which covers key sectors of the national adaptation plan. This includes a waste-water plant and technical support in water management. The UK does not currently deliver health sector programmes, including on antimicrobial resistance, in Jordan. However, we have funded water, sanitation and hygiene activities in both Za'atari and Azraq refugee camps.
The UK is one of the leading donors in supporting Lebanon in hosting both Syrian and Palestinian refugees. Since 2011, the UK has allocated over £780 million in humanitarian and development funding to Lebanon. Our humanitarian assistance will continue to promote access to education and provide those most in need with timely, flexible assistance and protection services to cover their basic survival needs and reduce gender-based violence, saving lives and reducing suffering.
The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the economic crisis in Lebanon. The economic crisis in turn has impacted Lebanon's response to the pandemic and wider healthcare provision. The UK is at the forefront of support to Lebanon's response to coronavirus and has contributed nearly £4.5m for medical supplies via the World Health Organisation and support through the British Red Cross as well as funding 10 Covid-19 isolation centres.
The COVID-19 pandemic is continuing to put pressure on essential services, resulting in disruptions with significant impacts for maternal and child health services in developing countries. For example in a World Health Organisation (WHO) country survey, 56% of responding countries reported disruption to antenatal care services.
The UK Government remains committed to supporting child, newborn and maternal health interventions as part of our manifesto commitment to end preventable deaths of mothers, newborns and children by 2030. Globally we are working with agencies such as the WHO, GAVI the Vaccine Alliance, and the Global Financing Facility to support governments to maintain health systems in affected countries, provide technical assistance and immunise children.
Tackling the humanitarian impact of the Syria Crisis, in Syria itself and neighbouring countries hosting refugees, remains a priority for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The FCDO is currently running a prioritisation exercise across all its programmes, to ensure that every pound we spend goes as far as possible and makes a world-leading difference. As this process is in its early stages, we are unable to assess the impact on the UK's aid spending in Syria.
The UK has been one of the largest donors to the humanitarian response to the Syria Crisis. Since 2012, we have committed over £3.3 billion to help Syrians displaced and vulnerable within their country, and Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries. This includes a pledge of at least £300 million for 2020 at this year's Brussels conference. In his statement to the House of Commons on 26 November, the Foreign Secretary stated that resolving conflicts and alleviating humanitarian crises will be focus areas for Official Development Assistance.
The UK is committed to highlighting the appalling violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in Syria including those committed by Daesh and to pursuing accountability for the most serious crimes. As penholder for the Syria text at the Human Rights Council, we have included language on enforced disappearance in recent Resolutions. We continue to support the UN Commission of Inquiry's investigations into human rights violations and abuses in Syria and the work of the UN International Impartial and Independent Mechanism which is gathering evidence for the prosecution of persons responsible for the most serious crimes under international law in Syria. The UK has contributed over £13 million since 2012 in support of Syrian and international efforts to gather evidence and assist victims of human rights abuses and violations.
On 22 October, the Foreign Secretary and like-minded counterparts issued a statement following a Ministerial meeting of the Syria Small Group: only a political settlement in line with Security Council Resolution 2254 can resolve the conflict. We regularly raise this matter in bilateral discussions and multilateral fora, including the UN Security Council. We call on all parties to the conflict in Syria to adhere to agreed ceasefires and abide by their obligations under International Humanitarian Law. We support the UN-facilitated political process to reach a lasting settlement to the Syrian conflict and a political settlement on the basis of UN Security Council Resolution 2254. To this end, we continue to support UN Syria Envoy Pedersen's efforts to convene the Constitutional Committee, most recently for a fourth round of talks in Geneva on 29 November. The UK remains a top donor to the Syria crisis. In June 2020 we committed at least £300 million at the Brussels Conference on "Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region". This brings the UK's support to Syria and the region since 2012 to £3.3 billion, the UK's biggest ever humanitarian response.
The UK regularly engages international partners on the security situation in Somalia, including the threat from Al Shabaab, the role of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somalia's ongoing needs for international support, as it takes greater control of its own security after 2021. UK efforts in November, for example, included a very active role in UN Security Council consultations, participation in an international conference on security support in Somalia and, with the UK as 'penholder', renewal of UN Somalia sanctions. I also recently discussed security in Somalia with Kenyan Ministers and the Somali Foreign Minister.
We are aware of reports about the withdrawal of some Ethiopian troops present in Somalia in a national capacity. We have not seen indications of Ethiopian proposals to withdraw from AMISOM. On 4 December the US announced the repositioning of US forces in Somalia, with some relocating to Djibouti or Kenya and others returning to the US. US officials have briefed UK counterparts on their decision, and been clear that this is a change in force posture and not a change in US policy on Somalia. We continue to work with international partners on our collective interests in building long-term security and stability in Somalia, and ensuring an effective international presence to support this.
We recognise this is a worrying time for British crew on board cruise ships around the world. It is primarily the responsibility of their employers - the cruise ship operators - to ensure the welfare and safety of their crew.??The Government is in direct contact with these operators, as well as directly with many crew members and their families, and we will continue to do what we can to ensure UK crew can access flights home.? The Government restated its commitment to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and International Maritime Organisation (IMO) at the start of this crisis, ensuring we lead globally on our obligations to seafarers welfare, and this is a position we intend to uphold.
Not all British crew are seeking to return to the UK. Some may wish to stay with the ship (with their employer's consent), while others may be required by their role to do so as part of the minimum safe manning requirements for the vessel. This is a legislative and flag state requirement to ensure the continued seaworthiness of vessels.
In 2021, the UK was the third largest development donor in the G7 as a percentage of GNI, spending over £11 billion on aid. The UK is committed to the global eradication of antimicrobial resistance and supports a wide range of activities to do this.
Through our £265m ODA Fleming Fund, the UK builds partnerships with LMICs to strengthen AMR surveillance, diagnostics and laboratory capacity. The Global AMR Innovation Fund (GAMRIF), another UK aid fund, supports early-stage innovative research in underfunded areas of AMR research and development for the benefit of people in low- and middle-income countries.
We have also used our aid budget to reduce the risks of antimicrobial resistance by helping prevent the emergence and spread of infectious diseases. Between April 2020 and December 2021, in partnership with Unilever the UK reached over 4 million refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) with handwashing messages to prevent the spread of infection in countries such as Bangladesh, Cameroon, Syria, South Sudan and Yemen. The UK also supports the work of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organisation for Migration and the Red Cross Movement, each of which include work on water, sanitation and hygiene as part of their programming and support displaced persons, including refugees and migrants in camps.
Short selling is regulated in the UK under the Short Selling Regulation, introduced in 2012. As with all regulation, the Treasury works closely with the regulators and market participants to monitor the effectiveness of the regulatory regime, in line with the government’s objectives of supporting economic growth and financial stability.
The Short Selling (Notification Thresholds) Regulations 2021 lowered the threshold for the reporting of net short positions to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), in relation to the issued share capital of a company that has shares admitted to trading on a trading venue, to 0.1%. HM Treasury will continue to consider with the FCA whether the notification threshold remains appropriate given market conditions.
HMRC undertake People Equality Impact Assessments (PEIA) on a regular basis at national and regional levels, covering all the impacts on employees as a result of their Locations Programme. The impact on employees in Cumbernauld who will be required to travel to a new office in Glasgow will be included in the wider PEIA for the Glasgow Region and will be updated later this year. HMRC publish national PEIAs externally; the regional PEIAs are published internally and made available to all employees.
HMRC provided the Honourable Member with the most recent Glasgow Regional PEIA, which included Cumbernauld, in December 2020.
HMRC have recruited c.3,794 temporary workers into the department over the last twelve months. The largest proportion, 2,564, relates to workers recruited to supplement the existing workforce to support UK Transition and COVID-19 schemes.
The table below provides a breakdown;
Area | Business Unit | Temporary Workers |
Covid19 and UKT Schemes (Bulk) | CSG/CCG | 1588 |
Borders Design to Delivery | 976 | |
Digital / Technology | CDIO | 198 |
RCDTS | 100 | |
CSTD | 40 | |
Operational Delivery | Customer Services | 671 |
Finance / Tax / Legal | Solicitors Office | 33 |
CFO | 31 | |
Compliance | CCG | 75 |
Other | Communications | 1 |
CPO | 52 | |
HR | 17 | |
Transformation | 2 | |
UK Transition | 4 | |
Customs Border Design | 6 | |
Total | 3794 |
Since the commencement of HMRC’s Location Programme activity, 45,158 people have been invited to undertake a one-to-one discussion to determine whether or not they are able to migrate to a future HMRC location and/or opt-in to move. Of those people, 5,251 have subsequently left HMRC on an exit package. A further 204 people have accepted Voluntary Redundancy offers and are due to leave HMRC by 30 June 2021.
Learning from HMRC’s experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has given the department the opportunity to look at what flexibilities HMRC can allow to help people to stay working in HMRC, HMRC will review their approach for the remainder of the programme.
HMRC are not developing a bespoke Customs Management software. They have selected a commercial package called Declaration Management System (DMS) as part of the CDS programme. DMS has been deployed into HMRC’s live environment and traders are already making transitions onto the new platform.
UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) offer the ASYCUDA system to developing countries as an alternative to DMS. There are about 90 countries with relatively small Customs functions (e.g. Albania, Palestine, and Somoa) using ASYCUDA worldwide. ASYCUDA is not used by any G7 or G20 countries.
ASYCUDA was considered alongside DMS as one of the options for CHIEF replacement. It was not selected as the preferred option because (a) it did not meet all of the Union Customs Code functional requirements and (b) there were no reference countries processing anything like (pre EU Exit) UK declaration volumes, and no guarantees that ASYCUDA could meet UK volumes. With an expected five-fold increase in declaration volumes resulting from our departure from the EU, ASYCUDA looked less well suited to UK requirements.
HMRC continue to test their customs systems to ensure they will remain effective following the end of the Transition Period. In the unlikely event of an unplanned outage there are fallback procedures in place. In addition, there is a disaster recovery system for CHIEF, and the new Customs Declaration Service is protected by the cloud-based environment it is hosted on.
As of 19 June, HMRC have confirmed receipt of 3,351 allegations of fraud relating specifically to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. These have been assessed in line with HMRC’s standard operating procedures for fraudulent allegations.
As per the latest updates to the guidance for the Coronavirus Job Retention scheme, grants cannot be used to substitute redundancy payments.
HMRC will continue to monitor businesses after the scheme has closed.
Full guidance can be found on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced new support for the self-employed on 26 March 2020.
The new Self-Employed Income Support Scheme will help those with lost trading profits due to COVID-19. It will allow eligible individuals to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of their trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for the next 3 months. This may be extended if needed and is one of the most generous self-employed support schemes in the world.
To qualify, an individual’s self-employed trading profits must be less than £50,000 and more than half of their income must come from self-employment. Some 95% of people who receive most of their income from self-employment will benefit from this Scheme.
HM Revenue & Customs will contact individuals if they are eligible and will invite them to apply online using a simple form. HMRC are working on this urgently and expect people to be able to access the Scheme no later than the beginning of June.
More information about the Scheme, including the full eligibility criteria and how to claim, is available at www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme
The Scheme supplements the significant support already announced for UK businesses and employees, including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, and deferral of tax payments.
More information about the full range of business support measures is available at www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/.
The Government is deferring tax payments, through the Income Tax Self-Assessment (ITSA) and VAT system to help support businesses and the self-employed with cash flows. VAT payments due between now and mid-June will be deferred. No business will have to make a VAT payment to HMRC in that period. Income tax payments due in July 2020 under the Self-Assessment system will be deferred to January 2021, benefitting up to 5.7m self-employed businesses.
The Government has also announced it is delaying the reforms to the off-payroll working rules (IR35) from April 2020 to April 2021 and the reforms will be legislated for in the 2020 Finance Bill. This deferral has been announced in response to the spread of Covid-19, to help businesses and individuals deal with the economic impacts of the pandemic.
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme is available to self-employed individuals with an eligible business entity. By providing an 80% government guarantee on finance facilities up to £5 million, this scheme will help more businesses access the finance they need. The Government will not charge businesses for this guarantee, and will also cover the first 12 months of interest payments for businesses. For more information on the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme go to: www.British-business-bank.co.uk/CBILS.
The Minimum Income Floor will be temporarily relaxed for all self-employed UC claimants for 1 year from 6 April. This means a drop in earnings due to the economic impacts of Covid-19 will not affect the amount of UC a claimant receives. This goes further than the Budget announcement to temporarily relax the MIF only for claimants who are directly affected by Covid-19, which has already come into effect. For those directly affected or self-isolating, there will be no attendance requirements, and Universal Credit can be claimed online or via phone.
Self-employed people unable to work because they are directly affected by Covid-19 or self-isolating will be eligible for Contributory Employment and Support Allowance. This is now payable from the first day of sickness, rather than the eighth. Eligible claimants under 25 will be entitled to £57.90 per week, and over 25s £73.10 per week.
The Government has announced a wide-ranging package of measures to support employees affected by Covid-19.
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will now be available for individuals diagnosed with Covid-19 or those who are unable to work because they are self-isolating in line with government guidance. This is in addition to the change announced by the Prime Minister that SSP will be payable from day one instead of day four for affected individuals.
Those who are not eligible for SSP can now more easily make a claim for Universal Credit or Contributory Employment and Support Allowance:
· For the duration of the outbreak, the requirements of the Universal Credit Minimum Income Floor will be temporarily relaxed for those who have Covid-19 or are self-isolating, ensuring self-employed claimants will receive support. ·
- People will be able to claim?Universal Credit and access?advance payments upfront without the current requirement to attend a jobcentre if they are advised to self-isolate.
- Contributory Employment and Support Allowance will be payable, at a rate of £73.10 a week for those over 25, for eligible people affected by COVID-19 or self-isolating in line with advice from day one of sickness, rather than day eight.
From Friday 20 March onwards, those who are advised to self-isolate will be able to obtain?an “isolation note” by contacting?NHS 111?, rather than by visiting a doctor.
The Budget also announced a £500 million Hardship Fund to help Local Authorities to support economically vulnerable people and households.
Banks and building societies are also ready and able to support consumers affected by Covid-19. On 17 March, the Chancellor announced on behalf of the sector that banks and building societies will offer a 3-month ‘mortgage holiday’ for borrowers that are financially struggling with their repayments. This forbearance measure will enable affected borrowers to defer their mortgage payments for up to three months while they get back on their feet. Customers who are concerned about the current financial situation should get in touch with their lender at the earliest possible opportunity.
Since the start of the Building Our Future Programme, 2,695 people have left HMRC as a result of Voluntary Exit, Voluntary Redundancy or Compulsory Redundancy at a cost of £91,618,846. Tables a) and b) below provide a breakdown of those numbers and associated costs.
For offices closing in 2020-21, HMRC estimate that there will be approximately 3,138 exits at a cost of £128,523,595. Table c) provides a breakdown of those estimated exits by type.
a) Breakdown of exits to date, by type and by region
Region | Total number of exits | Voluntary Exit | Voluntary Redundancy |
| Compulsory Redundancy |
East | 278 | 171 | 97 |
| 10 |
East Midlands | 138 | 61 | 73 |
| 4 |
London | 162 | 54 | 106 |
| 2 |
North East | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 0 |
North West | 644 | 0 | 580 |
| 64 |
Northern Ireland | 188 | 16 | 161 |
| 11 |
Scotland | 233 | 0 | 214 |
| 19 |
South East | 373 | 18 | 315 |
| 40 |
South West | 525 | 116 | 350 |
| 59 |
West Midlands | 103 | 20 | 78 |
| 5 |
Yorks & Humber | 47 | 15 | 30 |
| 2 |
Grand Total | 2695 | 471 | 2008 |
| 216 |
b) Breakdown of exit cost to date, by type
Total Exit Costs | Voluntary Exit | Voluntary Redundancy | Compulsory Redundancy |
£91,618,846 | £17,494,697 | £71,110,401 | £3,013,748 |
c) Breakdown of exits relating to 2020-21 office closures
Estimated number of exits | Estimated exit cost | Estimated Voluntary Exit | Estimated Voluntary Redundancy | Estimated Compulsory Redundancy |
3,138 | £128,523,595 | 0 | 2,887 | 251 |
Since the start of the Building Our Future Programme, 2,695 people have left HMRC as a result of Voluntary Exit, Voluntary Redundancy or Compulsory Redundancy at a cost of £91,618,846. Tables a) and b) below provide a breakdown of those numbers and associated costs.
For offices closing in 2020-21, HMRC estimate that there will be approximately 3,138 exits at a cost of £128,523,595. Table c) provides a breakdown of those estimated exits by type.
a) Breakdown of exits to date, by type and by region
Region | Total number of exits | Voluntary Exit | Voluntary Redundancy |
| Compulsory Redundancy |
East | 278 | 171 | 97 |
| 10 |
East Midlands | 138 | 61 | 73 |
| 4 |
London | 162 | 54 | 106 |
| 2 |
North East | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 0 |
North West | 644 | 0 | 580 |
| 64 |
Northern Ireland | 188 | 16 | 161 |
| 11 |
Scotland | 233 | 0 | 214 |
| 19 |
South East | 373 | 18 | 315 |
| 40 |
South West | 525 | 116 | 350 |
| 59 |
West Midlands | 103 | 20 | 78 |
| 5 |
Yorks & Humber | 47 | 15 | 30 |
| 2 |
Grand Total | 2695 | 471 | 2008 |
| 216 |
b) Breakdown of exit cost to date, by type
Total Exit Costs | Voluntary Exit | Voluntary Redundancy | Compulsory Redundancy |
£91,618,846 | £17,494,697 | £71,110,401 | £3,013,748 |
c) Breakdown of exits relating to 2020-21 office closures
Estimated number of exits | Estimated exit cost | Estimated Voluntary Exit | Estimated Voluntary Redundancy | Estimated Compulsory Redundancy |
3,138 | £128,523,595 | 0 | 2,887 | 251 |
Since the start of the Building Our Future Programme, 2,695 people have left HMRC as a result of Voluntary Exit, Voluntary Redundancy or Compulsory Redundancy at a cost of £91,618,846. Tables a) and b) below provide a breakdown of those numbers and associated costs.
For offices closing in 2020-21, HMRC estimate that there will be approximately 3,138 exits at a cost of £128,523,595. Table c) provides a breakdown of those estimated exits by type.
a) Breakdown of exits to date, by type and by region
Region | Total number of exits | Voluntary Exit | Voluntary Redundancy |
| Compulsory Redundancy |
East | 278 | 171 | 97 |
| 10 |
East Midlands | 138 | 61 | 73 |
| 4 |
London | 162 | 54 | 106 |
| 2 |
North East | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 0 |
North West | 644 | 0 | 580 |
| 64 |
Northern Ireland | 188 | 16 | 161 |
| 11 |
Scotland | 233 | 0 | 214 |
| 19 |
South East | 373 | 18 | 315 |
| 40 |
South West | 525 | 116 | 350 |
| 59 |
West Midlands | 103 | 20 | 78 |
| 5 |
Yorks & Humber | 47 | 15 | 30 |
| 2 |
Grand Total | 2695 | 471 | 2008 |
| 216 |
b) Breakdown of exit cost to date, by type
Total Exit Costs | Voluntary Exit | Voluntary Redundancy | Compulsory Redundancy |
£91,618,846 | £17,494,697 | £71,110,401 | £3,013,748 |
c) Breakdown of exits relating to 2020-21 office closures
Estimated number of exits | Estimated exit cost | Estimated Voluntary Exit | Estimated Voluntary Redundancy | Estimated Compulsory Redundancy |
3,138 | £128,523,595 | 0 | 2,887 | 251 |
The OBR publish a five year forecast of UK payments to the EU at each fiscal event in their Economic and Fiscal Outlook. Their most recent forecast was published at the time of the Spring Budget on 11 March 2020 and can be found at: https://obr.uk/efo/economic-and-fiscal-outlook-march-2020/
It is not possible to make an assessment with the information available. Assessing the total cost to the Exchequer is highly dependent on the individual’s circumstances. If a parent in a single-parent household left paid employment and accessed benefits to look after their children, under Universal Credit their total claim would be dependent on the claimant’s age, where they live and their housing tenure type, how many children are in the household and whether they or any of their children have a disability. Depending on the level of previous earnings, it may be the case that the person would also be eligible to Universal Credit whilst they were in work.
The overall public spending impact will also include lost Exchequer revenues from any taxation paid (such as National Insurance and Income Tax) which is again is dependent on the level of previous earnings, and other circumstances determining their National Insurance category.
HMRC announced its Locations Programme in 2015, which included the establishment of the Glasgow Regional Centre and closure of the Cumbernauld office. Ministers are kept up to date on HMRC’s progress in delivering the Locations Programme.
The former Secretary of State for Scotland (Rt Hon David Mundell MP) met with HMRC representatives to discuss the closure of the Cumbernauld office and the relocation of staff to the Glasgow Regional Centre.
The Home Office does not publish data concerning farm visits under the seasonal workers scheme.
The Seasonal Worker team undertakes farm visits to check sponsor compliance by interviewing farm managers, checking worker accommodation and speaking to sponsored seasonal workers.
If evidence of underpayment is identified, that is investigated in line with published Sponsor Guidance and action taken if necessary. UKVI do not compensate sponsored workers for loss of earnings.
Anonymity is offered to workers speaking to our officers; workers are also able to report concerns via the online reporting tool. Full details of how to report information to the Home Office are available at: www.gov.uk/reportimmigration-crime
Allegations of abuse should also be reported to the Gangmasters Labour Abuse Authority. Details of how to do this are available on the GLAA website, at: www.gla.gov.uk/report-issues/english-report-form/
The Government keeps the Seasonal Worker route under close ongoing review. Separately, the independent Migration Advisory Committee announced on 22 March 2023 that it is conducting a review of this route.
The Home Office does not publish data concerning farm visits under the seasonal workers scheme.
The Seasonal Worker team undertakes farm visits to check sponsor compliance by interviewing farm managers, checking worker accommodation and speaking to sponsored seasonal workers.
If evidence of underpayment is identified, that is investigated in line with published Sponsor Guidance and action taken if necessary. UKVI do not compensate sponsored workers for loss of earnings.
Anonymity is offered to workers speaking to our officers; workers are also able to report concerns via the online reporting tool. Full details of how to report information to the Home Office are available at: www.gov.uk/reportimmigration-crime
Allegations of abuse should also be reported to the Gangmasters Labour Abuse Authority. Details of how to do this are available on the GLAA website, at: www.gla.gov.uk/report-issues/english-report-form/
The Government keeps the Seasonal Worker route under close ongoing review. Separately, the independent Migration Advisory Committee announced on 22 March 2023 that it is conducting a review of this route.
The guidance for employers and landlords has been updated to explain that EUSS pre-settled status will be automatically extended before the original grant expires. The wording on the Home Office online checking service has also been updated to highlight the extension of pre-settled status.
Therefore, if a right to work or right to rent check shows that a person is approaching the expiry date of their pre-settled status, employers and landlords will be aware, from the updated guidance and the updated wording on the online checking services, that a person’s pre-settled status will be extended. Once a person’s pre-settled status has been extended, the new expiry date will be reflected on the Home Office online checking services.
The Scheme Operators are already required to have a clear employer transfer pathway in place as a condition of holding their sponsor licence, including transparent criteria for making a transfer request and a process for considering such requests. The Scheme Operators must not normally refuse requests to change employers, and may only do so where there are significant reasons preventing a transfer, for example the imminent expiry of a workers visa. This is set out in published Home Office guidance, available at: Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors: sponsor a seasonal worker - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
In the event that a scheme operator for the Seasonal Worker routes became unlicensed for any reason, the Home Office will consider each case on its own merits and tailor its response accordingly. Defra will, where appropriate, support the Home Office in delivering this response.
UKVI have implemented a specific seasonal workers team as recommended by the 2022 ICIBI report. They have interviewed an extensive number of migrant workers this year and requested evidence of pay rates from the scheme operators. These visits, often undertaken with GLAA, seek evidence of salary paid to ensure requirements are met. Any breach of Sponsor guidance identified is dealt with as per published Sponsor Guidance.
As such, UKVI can take action against a Sponsor licence when it is identified workers are being incorrectly paid or there is a failure to comply with employment law.
UKVI have inspected and assured the complaints procedures put in place by the operators for workers to report treatment and conditions on farms.
Regular engagement with the licensed scheme operators is in place and UKVI assure that the operators monitor conditions on farms.
UKVI have implemented a specific seasonal workers team as recommended by the 2022 ICIBI report. They have interviewed an extensive number of migrant workers this year and requested evidence of pay rates from the scheme operators. These visits, often undertaken with GLAA, seek evidence of salary paid to ensure requirements are met. Any breach of Sponsor guidance identified is dealt with as per published Sponsor Guidance.
As such, UKVI can take action against a Sponsor licence when it is identified workers are being incorrectly paid or there is a failure to comply with employment law.
UKVI have inspected and assured the complaints procedures put in place by the operators for workers to report treatment and conditions on farms.
Regular engagement with the licensed scheme operators is in place and UKVI assure that the operators monitor conditions on farms.
Regulations will be laid in the Autumn that will amend the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2018 and Immigration (Health Charge) Order 2015 to set new visa fee levels and increase the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) respectively. The exact date that visa fee and IHS increases will come into effect is subject to parliamentary process.
Where a person applying on a family and human rights immigration route is unable to afford the visa fee and the IHS and where this is backed by clear and compelling evidence provided by the individual, the fees may be waived if they are unaffordable.
The Home Office has undertaken equalities impact assessments for the visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) increases.
Application fees will increase across a range of immigration and nationality routes, including for people coming to live, work and study, and for applications to remain in the UK. The routes which are impacted, and the levels of increase will be set out within the regulations to be laid in Autumn and are subject to usual parliamentary process.
The Home Office has undertaken equalities impact assessments for the visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) increases.
Application fees will increase across a range of immigration and nationality routes, including for people coming to live, work and study, and for applications to remain in the UK. The routes which are impacted, and the levels of increase will be set out within the regulations to be laid in Autumn and are subject to usual parliamentary process.
The Home Secretary wrote to the Chair of HASC on 30 August 2023, with the details of the first five countries; the letter will be published by HASC in due course.
Following the Inspection by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders, the Home Office signalled our intention to complete a review of the seasonal worker route. The Government will publish information pertaining to the operation of the Seasonal Worker route in due course.
We have also progressed our commitment to develop a communications and engagement plan. The Seasonal Work Engagement plan forms part of a wider strategy to refresh engagement with all sectors serviced by UK Visas and Immigration.
No Ministerial Directions have been issued on proposals in the Illegal Migration Bill. All Ministerial Directions are published on https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministerial-directions.
That data can only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Information on the number of applications received and number of arrivals in the UK can be found here Ukraine Visa Schemes: visa data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Details of the age of those who have arrived is available here Statistics on Ukrainians in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
All unaccompanied children’s applications are considered in line with the Immigration Rules and Guidance. However, data on the number of children who were considered to be unaccompanied is not published in the public domain.
Information on the number of applications received and number of arrivals in the UK can be found here Ukraine Visa Schemes: visa data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Details of the age of those who have arrived is available here Statistics on Ukrainians in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
All unaccompanied children’s applications are considered in line with the Immigration Rules and Guidance. However, data on the number of children who were considered to be unaccompanied is not published in the public domain.
Potential victims of modern slavery who have entered the NRM, and need emergency accommodation, particularly those who are vulnerable and are leaving immediate situations of exploitation, will receive accommodation support in line with the Modern Slavery Statutory Guidance.
The Home Office is reviewing the policy options and commencement of places of safety.
Those who meet all eligibility and specified evidential requirements of the Family Immigration Rules are granted on a five-year route to settlement (granted in two periods of 30 months, with a third application for indefinite leave to remain). Those who cannot or do not meet these requirements, or seek to rely on their private life, instead have a 10 year route to settlement (granted in four periods of 30 months, with a fifth application for indefinite leave to remain). This reflects our obligations under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The 10 year route provides additional time for those applicants to better integrate into British society by being able to achieve an appropriate knowledge of the English language which, in turn, will enable them to obtain employment and take a full and active part in their community.
We are in the process of simplifying the immigration system, including the 10 year routes to settlement. As part of this simplification the impact of existing policies will be taken into account.
The right to stay indefinitely is one of the most valuable entitlements offered for those seeking to enter or remain in the UK, and it is right that the fee should be higher than most for migrants staying temporarily in the UK.
A grant of indefinite leave to remain is not necessary to enable people to remain in the UK on the basis of their Article 8 or other ECHR rights, as these can be met through a grant of limited leave to remain. The provision of an affordability-based waiver for limited leave on family and private life routes allows an individual or family to remain here lawfully, and to then apply for settlement and pay the fee when the funds become available. As such, there are no plans to waive the fee for indefinite leave to remain.
We do not currently hold any information regarding the proportion of these people who might have limited leave to remain in the UK and are consequently awaiting a decision on a visa extension application are on the ten-year route to settlement.
The data requested is not available in a reportable format.
The data requested is not available in a reportable format.
UK Visas and Immigration are currently operating within their global customer service standards across all of the main legal migration routes for customers who make an entry clearance application from overseas and for applications made inside the UK.
Details of current performance against these customer service standards are updated regularly and can be found at:
Visa decision waiting times: applications outside the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab).
Visa decision waiting times: applications inside the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
I refer the Hon. Member to my response to Question 149440 on 28 February: Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament.
We will publish an equality impact assessment and economic impact assessment in respect of the Illegal Migration Bill in due course.
It is not possible to match Duty to Notify (DtN) data to individuals who have arrived in the UK via small boats crossings; as the individual has not given their consent to enter the National Referral Mechanism DtNs are often anonymised, and DtN data is not entered onto immigration databases.
The increase in enforcement comes as the Home Office establishes the UK’s first cross-government ministerial taskforce on immigration enforcement, which will ensure every available power across government is utilised to support law enforcement activity to identify and reduce illegal migrants in the UK, and ensure only those eligible can work, receive benefits or access public services.
The taskforce will go further and faster to prevent the abuse of our laws and borders and crack down on individuals exploiting the generosity of the UK taxpayer. Further information will be provided in due course.
The increase in enforcement comes as the Home Office establishes the UK’s first cross-government ministerial taskforce on immigration enforcement, which will ensure every available power across government is utilised to support law enforcement activity to identify and reduce illegal migrants in the UK, and ensure only those eligible can work, receive benefits or access public services.
The taskforce will go further and faster to prevent the abuse of our laws and borders and crack down on individuals exploiting the generosity of the UK taxpayer. Further information will be provided in due course.
The increase in enforcement comes as the Home Office establishes the UK’s first cross-government ministerial taskforce on immigration enforcement, which will ensure every available power across government is utilised to support law enforcement activity to identify and reduce illegal migrants in the UK, and ensure only those eligible can work, receive benefits or access public services.
The taskforce will go further and faster to prevent the abuse of our laws and borders and crack down on individuals exploiting the generosity of the UK taxpayer. Further information will be provided in due course.
The increase in enforcement comes as the Home Office establishes the UK’s first cross-government ministerial taskforce on immigration enforcement, which will ensure every available power across government is utilised to support law enforcement activity to identify and reduce illegal migrants in the UK, and ensure only those eligible can work, receive benefits or access public services.
The taskforce will go further and faster to prevent the abuse of our laws and borders and crack down on individuals exploiting the generosity of the UK taxpayer. Further information will be provided in due course.
The Small Boats Enhanced Raw Data report and the Vantage Single Competent Authority Hybrid are the source datasets where information about small boat arrivals and National Referral Mechanism (NRM) referrals are brought together, any processing applied and totals calculated. They are then used as the source data for reporting, including publication of demographic and asylum outcome data for small boat arrivals as published in the ‘Irregular Migration to the UK release’.
Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, as well as quality and availability of data.
The Home Office carried out an internal review into the operation of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 last year to inform the Home Secretary’s Report as required by Section 260. This report will be published and laid in Parliament in due course. A final copy of the report will be shared with the Investigatory Powers Commissioner and Intelligence and Security Committee ahead of publication. This Report aims to assess, as far as possible, the extent to which the objectives of the Act continue to be met and whether any changes are required to ensure it remains fit for purpose.
To complement this process, and noting the value of the independent scrutiny that informed the passage of the 2016 Act, the Home Secretary has decided to appoint Lord Anderson KBE KC to conduct a separate review into aspects of the Act to inform any potential legislative change. Lord Anderson will carry out his own consultation with law enforcement, the intelligence agencies, and wider public authorities, as well as other external organisations and individuals with an interest in this work.
All workers on the Seasonal Worker immigration route must receive at least £10.10 per hour for each hour worked, regardless of the type of contract they hold, including where they are paid by piece rate. This is set out in the following guidance:
The piece rate payment method is already governed by relevant UK wage legislation, which is set by the relevant devolved region in which a worker is employed.
The UK government is committed to supporting the agricultural industry as it continues to adapt to changes in the UK labour market.
The Government has taken the decision to increase the number of Scheme Operators for the Seasonal Worker route to reflect the announced increase in the scheme quota. Scheme operators are selected by DEFRA through a fair and open selection process according to their own criteria and recommended to the Home Office – who assess the operator’s suitability to become a licenced sponsor. Details of DEFRA’s selection process are publicly available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/seasonal-worker-visa-route-request-for-information-rfi.
The Scheme Operators are already required to have a clear employer transfer pathway in place as a condition of holding their sponsor licence, including transparent criteria for making a transfer request and a process for
considering such requests. The Scheme Operators must not normally refuse requests to change employers, and may only do so where there are significant reasons preventing a transfer, for example the imminent expiry of a workers visa. This is set out in published Home Office guidance, available at: Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors: sponsor a seasonal worker - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The UK government is committed to supporting the agricultural industry as it continues to adapt to changes in the UK labour market.
The Government has taken the decision to increase the number of Scheme Operators for the Seasonal Worker route to reflect the announced increase in the scheme quota. Scheme operators are selected by DEFRA through a fair and open selection process according to their own criteria and recommended to the Home Office – who assess the operator’s suitability to become a licenced sponsor. Details of DEFRA’s selection process are publicly available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/seasonal-worker-visa-route-request-for-information-rfi.
The Scheme Operators are already required to have a clear employer transfer pathway in place as a condition of holding their sponsor licence, including transparent criteria for making a transfer request and a process for
considering such requests. The Scheme Operators must not normally refuse requests to change employers, and may only do so where there are significant reasons preventing a transfer, for example the imminent expiry of a workers visa. This is set out in published Home Office guidance, available at: Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors: sponsor a seasonal worker - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Seasonal worker providers must hold a licence issued by the Home Office and comply with the published duties pertinent to that licence.
A key objective of the seasonal worker scheme is to ensure migrant workers are protected against modern slavery and other labour abuses. The Home Office and Defra monitor the scheme closely to ensure operators adhere to the stringent requirements set for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the seasonal workers, including routinely visiting farms to see conditions first hand. The scheme places numerous requirements on the operators to monitor and ensure welfare, such as facilitating moves to different participating growers should a worker wish to change employer.
If anyone has reason to believe that abusive practices may be taking place, they should report this through our formal channels so that the information is placed in the hands of the relevant authorities for assessment and potential investigation.
The Contract Assurance team currently has 22 full time equivalent staff. From April to September the team conducted 192 inspections of contingency accommodation and 442 inspections of dispersal accommodation, alongside other contract assurance activities.
Once initial checks and considerations are complete, and an individual site is identified as potentially suitable, providers are given approval to begin due diligence and engagement with hotel and the Home Office begins its engagement activity with local partners including notice to Chief Executive and MPs. Due diligence covers a range of issues including compliance with statutory requirements as well as general suitability and environment.
The ICIBI also conducted a thorough review of contingency accommodation. Their findings were published in May 2022 and the Home Office has accepted all of the recommendations made.
All asylum claims are considered on a case by case basis and in line with published policy so that individuals who need protection and are granted asylum can start to integrate and rebuild their lives.
We are committed to speeding up the decision making process, so that we can remove those with no right to be here and focus our finite resources on those in geniune need.
All asylum claims are considered on a case by case basis and in line with published policy so that individuals who need protection and are granted asylum can start to integrate and rebuild their lives in the UK.
To further accelerate decision making we are simplifying and modernising our system. This includes measures like shortening interviews, removing unnecessary interviews, making guidance simpler and more accessible, dealing with cases more swiftly where they can be certified as manifestly unfounded and extra decision makers.
The welfare and safety of all vulnerable asylum seekers in our care is of the utmost importance to the Home Office, and we expect the highest standards from our accommodation providers. Our accommodation providers are contractually obliged to provide adequate accommodation and to conduct regular quality assurance checks across the asylum estate. Accommodation providers complete due diligence checks and all accommodation must be statutorily and regulatory compliant before they are selected. Robust compliance and governance protocols exist to ensure daily engagement is undertaken with our service providers by Home Office officials to ensure and assure that the providers’ operational delivery and overall performance consistently meet the required standards. This is supplemented by weekly, monthly and quarterly governance meetings.
The Home Office also has a Contract Assurance team which conducts a range of activities to ensure accommodation providers deliver to the required standards. All contingency accommodation sites are inspected by the team. Dispersal accommodation is also inspected on an intelligence led basis. Properties are checked against the high standards set by the contract. Providers are required to take immediate action to address any issues that are found.
Asylum seekers can raise specific issues or concerns about their accommodation through the 24/7 Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility (AIRE) service operated via Migrant Help. Home Office officials review the issues and feedback received via Migrant Help to help understand the health of the service and address any problems, for example, by targeting inspections of properties about which issues have been raised
The welfare and safety of all vulnerable asylum seekers in our care is of the utmost importance to the Home Office, and we expect the highest standards from our accommodation providers. Our accommodation providers are contractually obliged to provide adequate accommodation and to conduct regular quality assurance checks across the asylum estate. Accommodation providers complete due diligence checks and all accommodation must be statutorily and regulatory compliant before they are selected. Robust compliance and governance protocols exist to ensure daily engagement is undertaken with our service providers by Home Office officials to ensure and assure that the providers’ operational delivery and overall performance consistently meet the required standards. This is supplemented by weekly, monthly and quarterly governance meetings.
The Home Office also has a Contract Assurance team which conducts a range of activities to ensure accommodation providers deliver to the required standards. All contingency accommodation sites are inspected by the team. Dispersal accommodation is also inspected on an intelligence led basis. Properties are checked against the high standards set by the contract. Providers are required to take immediate action to address any issues that are found.
Asylum seekers can raise specific issues or concerns about their accommodation through the 24/7 Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility (AIRE) service operated via Migrant Help. Home Office officials review the issues and feedback received via Migrant Help to help understand the health of the service and address any problems, for example, by targeting inspections of properties about which issues have been raised
The welfare and safety of all vulnerable asylum seekers in our care is of the utmost importance to the Home Office, and we expect the highest standards from our accommodation providers. Our accommodation providers are contractually obliged to provide adequate accommodation and to conduct regular quality assurance checks across the asylum estate. Accommodation providers complete due diligence checks and all accommodation must be statutorily and regulatory compliant before they are selected. Robust compliance and governance protocols exist to ensure daily engagement is undertaken with our service providers by Home Office officials to ensure and assure that the providers’ operational delivery and overall performance consistently meet the required standards. This is supplemented by weekly, monthly and quarterly governance meetings.
The Home Office also has a Contract Assurance team which conducts a range of activities to ensure accommodation providers deliver to the required standards. All contingency accommodation sites are inspected by the team. Dispersal accommodation is also inspected on an intelligence led basis. Properties are checked against the high standards set by the contract. Providers are required to take immediate action to address any issues that are found.
Asylum seekers can raise specific issues or concerns about their accommodation through the 24/7 Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility (AIRE) service operated via Migrant Help. Home Office officials review the issues and feedback received via Migrant Help to help understand the health of the service and address any problems, for example, by targeting inspections of properties about which issues have been raised
The Seasonal Worker is an ‘operator led’ immigration route, with four scheme operators selected to manage the placement of workers on UK farms and to ensure their welfare in the UK.
The Seasonal Worker scheme operators are responsible for managing all aspects of the recruitment and placement of workers on UK farms, and ensure workers have sufficient work as part of their sponsorship duties. The Home Office closely monitors the scheme operators to ensure they are complying with their sponsor duties. Non-compliance with the guidance could result in the revocation of their sponsor license.
The Home Office monitors the number of workers who enter the UK through this route and the number of workers that return to ensure that the route is operating effectively. We do not however routinely publish information about lengths of stay.
The Seasonal Worker is an ‘operator led’ immigration route, with four scheme operators selected to manage the placement of workers on UK farms and to ensure their welfare in the UK.
The Seasonal Worker scheme operators are responsible for managing all aspects of the recruitment and placement of workers on UK farms, and ensure workers have sufficient work as part of their sponsorship duties. The Home Office closely monitors the scheme operators to ensure they are complying with their sponsor duties. Non-compliance with the guidance could result in the revocation of their sponsor license.
The Home Office monitors the number of workers who enter the UK through this route and the number of workers that return to ensure that the route is operating effectively. We do not however routinely publish information about lengths of stay.
Home Office does not hold the requested data in a reportable format and there are currently no plans to publish this historic data.
Asylum accommodation is sourced and provided to those who are eligible and is not limited to those individuals who are processed at Manston following arrival by small boat. We continue to work at pace to secure suitable alternative accommodation.
Since 6th September over 100 new hotels providing over 9,000 additional bed spaces have been brought into use.
Asylum accommodation is sourced and provided to those who are eligible and is not limited to those individuals who are processed at Manston following arrival by small boat. We continue to work at pace to secure suitable alternative accommodation.
Since 6th September over 100 new hotels providing over 9,000 additional bed spaces have been brought into use.
There is no legal requirement for labour abuse authorities, agencies, or inspectorates, to share information with Immigration Enforcement in relation to the personal data or immigration status of workers. Referrals may be made to Immigration Enforcement via the ‘Report Immigration Crime’ tool on gov.uk, or in the format of an intelligence report. These referrals may include personal data which could relate to immigration offenders.
The Seasonal Worker route was extended into this year, with 38,000 visas available, to support our farmers growing fruit and vegetables as they adapt to changes in the UK labour market. The Government is keeping the position under close review and I hope to say more on this matter in due course.
The Government spends £33 million a year on state enforcement of employment rights. This covers national minimum wage, employment agencies, gangmasters licensing and modern slavery related to worker exploitation.
The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) regulates the activities of labour providers, who supply temporary workers into the agricultural sector. The purpose of the GLAA licensing regime is to prevent exploitation of workers and improve standards of compliance by labour suppliers. Any labour provider that supplies workers in the agricultural sector must hold a GLAA licence. As each of the Seasonal Worker Scheme Operators is engaged in the supply of temporary labour into activities in the agricultural sector, they are required to hold a GLAA licence and comply with the licensing standards.
During the application process for a GLAA licence, a check is made of other Government departments and the Police, and an inspection is carried out to check compliance with the licensing standards. Regarding monitoring, the GLAA is intelligence-led when determining which businesses to inspect.
If the GLAA receives intelligence which indicates potential exploitation of workers, then this will be investigated. If non-compliance is found, then action will be taken and if the non-compliance is serious, their GLAA licence could be revoked. If there are indicators of forced labour, the GLAA will investigate using its powers under the Immigration Act 2016 and take appropriate action to bring criminal perpetrators to justice.
We are unable to comment on specific cases without further information. However, we are aware of technical issues with similar characteristics to the three case studies provided in the correspondence from the3million, where individuals have reported that other individuals’ face images or personal details appeared on their online digital immigration status.
These technical issues can sometimes constitute data breaches. We handle data breaches extremely seriously and if they occur they are reported and raised with relevant teams in accordance with Home Office data handling procedures. All such incidents are then referred to the relevant Data Protection Officer to investigate and assess against the data protection legislation to determine next steps and raise to the ICO if necessary. No data breaches relating to digital immigration status have been raised to the ICO as they fall below the threshold for escalation.
All technical issues reported by users of digital immigration status are logged, investigated, and fixed at the root cause to prevent users experiencing the same issues again.
The costs of our broken asylum system are at a 20-year record high, currently costing the UK taxpayer over £2 billion a year. This cannot continue – and the partnership with Rwanda is a key part of our plans to reform the system and put an end to unsustainable costs which impact the taxpayer.
The UK has provided Rwanda with an initial investment of £120m as part of the Migration and Economic Development Partnership. The UK will also be funding the processing costs for each person relocated, such as caseworkers, legal advice, translators, accommodation, food, healthcare, and for those granted protection, a comprehensive integration package to help them put down roots and start a new life. The UK has also made a £20m upfront payment to the Government of Rwanda to support initial set up costs.
We do not routinely disclose commercial or operational information relating to individual charter flights.
Actual spend will be reported as part of the annual Home Office Reports and Accounts in the usual way.
The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) does not routinely inspect farms employing people with Seasonal Workers Scheme visas, as the workers are employed directly by the farms or growers.
The GLAA does not hold site specific data in a format that can be extracted from their systems and will not only visit agricultural settings, but also food processing and shellfish gathering sites. Details on their inspection work are available here: Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority - Performance Reports - GLAA.
The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) does not routinely inspect farms employing people with Seasonal Workers Scheme visas, as the workers are employed directly by the farms or growers.
The GLAA does not hold site specific data in a format that can be extracted from their systems and will not only visit agricultural settings, but also food processing and shellfish gathering sites. Details on their inspection work are available here: Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority - Performance Reports - GLAA.
The Home Office publishes data on visas in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’.
Data on the number of granted applications regarding the Health and Care visa are published in table Vis_D02 of the entry clearance visas applications and outcomes dataset.
Carriers are responsible for ensuring that passengers are properly documented for travel to the UK or they may be liable to a carrier’s liability charge. These charges never apply to the carriage of correctly documented passengers, regardless of their nationality or the documentation they hold.
Since 1 October 2021, EU, other EEA and Swiss national citizens (with the exception of those who have protected rights under the EU Withdrawal Agreement and equivalent agreements) have been required to use a passport to enter the UK rather than a national identity card. We do not currently impose carriers’ liability charges on carriers bringing people to the UK incorrectly travelling on an identity card. This will change in the future as the rollout of our future border and immigration system will increasingly support interactive messaging with carriers to inform them what documentation is acceptable on an individual passenger basis.
We have no known data breaches relating to digital immigration status that have been reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) since the launch of the EU Settlement Scheme (28th August 2018).
We handle data breaches extremely seriously and if they occurred, they would be reported and raised with relevant teams in accordance with Home Office data handling procedures. All such incidents would then be referred to the relevant Data Protection Officer to investigate and assess against the data protection legislation to determine next steps and raise to the ICO if necessary.
The latest figures on the number of applications processed under the Ukraine Schemes, including the Ukraine Extension Scheme, can be found here: Ukraine Family Scheme, Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) and Ukraine Extension Scheme visa data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
The Government currently has no plans to further expand the Seasonal Worker immigration route.
The Government has made no estimate of the number of seasonal workers working in Scotland by labour provider as of 1 August 2022, nor do we plan to make an estimate of the number of farms in Scotland with workers employed on the seasonal worker visa scheme; and the number of farms in Scotland with each labour provider. The UK operates a national immigration system and does not gather such information by devolved region.
The Government currently has no plans to further expand the Seasonal Worker immigration route.
The Government has made no estimate of the number of seasonal workers working in Scotland by labour provider as of 1 August 2022, nor do we plan to make an estimate of the number of farms in Scotland with workers employed on the seasonal worker visa scheme; and the number of farms in Scotland with each labour provider. The UK operates a national immigration system and does not gather such information by devolved region.
The Government currently has no plans to further expand the Seasonal Worker immigration route.
The Government has made no estimate of the number of seasonal workers working in Scotland by labour provider as of 1 August 2022, nor do we plan to make an estimate of the number of farms in Scotland with workers employed on the seasonal worker visa scheme; and the number of farms in Scotland with each labour provider. The UK operates a national immigration system and does not gather such information by devolved region.
Agricultural workers on the Seasonal Worker visa enjoy the same rights and protections as settled workers in the UK.
Sponsors, and by extension the growers hosting these workers, also have a duty of care to their workers and are expected to comply with the sponsor guidance which requires them to give workers time off, proper breaks, and to ensure the workers’ work environment is safe and complies with relevant Health and Safety requirements. Non-compliance with the guidance could result in the revocation of their sponsor license.
The guidance ‘Applications for a citizenship fee waiver for individuals under the age of 18’ sets out the policy on applications that may be eligible for a fee waiver or exception, not the Home Office’s overarching nationality policy.
The registration provisions within the BNA 1981 allow for children with a close connection to the UK to be registered as a British citizen. The Home Office’s Nationality policy is published on gov.uk and guidance on citizenship can be accessed via the following link: British citizenship (nationality guidance) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The British Nationality Regulations 2003 state a nationality application must contain the person’s name, date and place of birth, and a declaration that the contents are true. This information is contained in a fee waiver request and can be treated as an application for citizenship on the date it is made. No change to the 2003 Regulations is therefore required.
Our vision for the future of the border, including the roll out of Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs), includes increasing the number of passengers who can be checked on arrival by an automated process, rather than needing to speak with an Immigration Officer on arrival.
Ukraine Extension Scheme visa holders can already qualify for the Ukraine Family Scheme providing they meet the relevant criteria.
Nationals of Ukraine coming to the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme will be given access to work, benefits and public services as laid down in the Immigration Rules Appendix Ukraine, details of which can be found at:
Immigration Rules Appendix Ukraine Scheme - Immigration Rules - Guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Successful applicants will not be given leave beyond the three years already granted to them under the Ukraine Extension Scheme.
The Ukraine Extension Scheme ensures these individuals are granted the same rights and entitlements as those coming via the other two schemes, namely, three years’ leave as well as full access to work, study and public funds. It went live on 3 May.
If they want to bring family members to the UK they do not need to show accommodation under the Family Scheme and once here the family will have the same access to benefits allowing them to rent an appropriate property. If they want to act as a sponsor to other Ukrainians under the Homes for Ukraine scheme they will need to show that their property is suitable to accommodate them and will receive the same thank you payment as other sponsors.
The Home Office does not publish data on the number of applications which have been made under the Ukrainian Extension Scheme.
Published data on the number of people issued a visa through schemes launched as a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine can be found on the GOV.UK webpage: Ukraine Family Scheme and Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) visa data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Information requested which is not contained within this published data is not routinely captured. To capture numbers would require a manual trawl of data and to do so would incur disproportionate cost
We have been working to support Afghan families into homes of their own, so they can settle into their local communities, feel safe and independent and rebuild their lives in the UK.
We provide 7 days’ notice of their move to long-term accommodation. During this time, they can prepare for their move and discuss any concerns with their Home Office Liaison Officer. We will also put them in contact with the relevant Local Authority to discuss the area they are moving to and what the local amenities are including schools, local services and details of the local community to help them integrate as quickly as possible.
We work closely with Local Authorities and we strive to allocate the right families into the right accommodation to ensure integration into their new area is as smooth as possible. To achieve this, we triage and prioritise families to ensure the settled accommodation provides the best possible match, taking into consideration date of arrival into the UK, family size, vulnerability and integration factors.
This also includes finding accommodation within or near to, major conurbations wherever possible so appropriate support and access to services can be more readily provided. Yet this must be balanced with the need to avoid lengthy periods being accommodated in hotels when good offers of accommodation are being made from other areas which are ready to welcome Afghan families.
We have been working to support Afghan families into homes of their own, so they can settle into their local communities, feel safe and independent and rebuild their lives in the UK.
We provide 7 days’ notice of their move to long-term accommodation. During this time, they can prepare for their move and discuss any concerns with their Home Office Liaison Officer. We will also put them in contact with the relevant Local Authority to discuss the area they are moving to and what the local amenities are including schools, local services and details of the local community to help them integrate as quickly as possible.
We work closely with Local Authorities and we strive to allocate the right families into the right accommodation to ensure integration into their new area is as smooth as possible. To achieve this, we triage and prioritise families to ensure the settled accommodation provides the best possible match, taking into consideration date of arrival into the UK, family size, vulnerability and integration factors.
This also includes finding accommodation within or near to, major conurbations wherever possible so appropriate support and access to services can be more readily provided. Yet this must be balanced with the need to avoid lengthy periods being accommodated in hotels when good offers of accommodation are being made from other areas which are ready to welcome Afghan families.
The information requested above is not available in a reportable format and would require a manual check of individual records which could only be done at disproportionate cost.
The Home Office published a one-off release on 22 February 2022, Statistical note: FNO appeals lodged and allowed on human rights grounds, 2008 to 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The Ministry of Justice also publish data regarding all appeals lodged with the First-tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber (FTTIAC) in the following statistical quarterly release:
Tribunal Statistics Quarterly: October to December 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Section 32 of the UK Borders Act 2007 provides a statutory duty to deport a foreign national if they have been convicted of an offence in the UK and sentenced to a period of imprisonment of at least 12 months. This is subject to several exceptions, including where to do so would be a breach of a person’s ECHR rights or the UK’s obligations under the Refugee Convention.
Those deported are provided with the opportunity to raise claims prior to their removal being enforced. Where an Article 8 human rights claim is advanced by a foreign national offender, careful consideration is given to their claimed family and/or private life, in accordance with the Immigration Rules. All claims raised are fully considered on the individual merits of the case and decided before deportation. The UK only ever returns those who the Home Office and, where applicable, the courts are satisfied do not have a legal basis to remain in the UK.
The information requested above is not available in a reportable format and would require a manual check of individual records which could only be done at disproportionate cost.
The Home Office published a one-off release on 22 February 2022, Statistical note: FNO appeals lodged and allowed on human rights grounds, 2008 to 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The Ministry of Justice also publish data regarding all appeals lodged with the First-tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber (FTTIAC) in the following statistical quarterly release:
Tribunal Statistics Quarterly: October to December 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Section 32 of the UK Borders Act 2007 provides a statutory duty to deport a foreign national if they have been convicted of an offence in the UK and sentenced to a period of imprisonment of at least 12 months. This is subject to several exceptions, including where to do so would be a breach of a person’s ECHR rights or the UK’s obligations under the Refugee Convention.
Those deported are provided with the opportunity to raise claims prior to their removal being enforced. Where an Article 8 human rights claim is advanced by a foreign national offender, careful consideration is given to their claimed family and/or private life, in accordance with the Immigration Rules. All claims raised are fully considered on the individual merits of the case and decided before deportation. The UK only ever returns those who the Home Office and, where applicable, the courts are satisfied do not have a legal basis to remain in the UK.
287 - Those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will be admissible and have an outstanding asylum claim. Both the design of the Linton-on-Ouse operating model and the proposed site configuration will enable substantive asylum interviews to be undertaken remotely, via video conference.
285 - Asylum Seekers will have their asylum claim considered at Linton-on-Ouse and will reside there until their interview has been completed and case progressed to a decision ready stage. At this point they will be dispersed for their decision to be made and served at Dispersed Accommodation.
290 - Those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will have the ability to access the support of legal representation, either face-to-face or remotely. The Home Office continues to liaise with colleagues in the Ministry of Justice and Legal Aid Agency to finalise the details of this provision at Linton-on-Ouse.
286 - Initially, those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will be single, adult, males with limited vulnerabilities. To ensure the safety and wellbeing of those allocated accommodation at Linton, an assessment will take place by the Home Office prior to allocation using suitability criteria. The Home office continue to work with Department of Health colleagues to ensure a minimal impact on local health services.
288 - Asylum seekers will be eligible to be accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse at the early stages of their admissible asylum claim case working, after they have been screened. Initially, we will select those staying at hotels and who have applied for asylum support via the submission of an ASF1 form.
289 - Those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will have the ability to access the support of legal representation, either face-to-face or remotely.
287 - Those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will be admissible and have an outstanding asylum claim. Both the design of the Linton-on-Ouse operating model and the proposed site configuration will enable substantive asylum interviews to be undertaken remotely, via video conference.
285 - Asylum Seekers will have their asylum claim considered at Linton-on-Ouse and will reside there until their interview has been completed and case progressed to a decision ready stage. At this point they will be dispersed for their decision to be made and served at Dispersed Accommodation.
290 - Those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will have the ability to access the support of legal representation, either face-to-face or remotely. The Home Office continues to liaise with colleagues in the Ministry of Justice and Legal Aid Agency to finalise the details of this provision at Linton-on-Ouse.
286 - Initially, those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will be single, adult, males with limited vulnerabilities. To ensure the safety and wellbeing of those allocated accommodation at Linton, an assessment will take place by the Home Office prior to allocation using suitability criteria. The Home office continue to work with Department of Health colleagues to ensure a minimal impact on local health services.
288 - Asylum seekers will be eligible to be accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse at the early stages of their admissible asylum claim case working, after they have been screened. Initially, we will select those staying at hotels and who have applied for asylum support via the submission of an ASF1 form.
289 - Those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will have the ability to access the support of legal representation, either face-to-face or remotely.
287 - Those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will be admissible and have an outstanding asylum claim. Both the design of the Linton-on-Ouse operating model and the proposed site configuration will enable substantive asylum interviews to be undertaken remotely, via video conference.
285 - Asylum Seekers will have their asylum claim considered at Linton-on-Ouse and will reside there until their interview has been completed and case progressed to a decision ready stage. At this point they will be dispersed for their decision to be made and served at Dispersed Accommodation.
290 - Those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will have the ability to access the support of legal representation, either face-to-face or remotely. The Home Office continues to liaise with colleagues in the Ministry of Justice and Legal Aid Agency to finalise the details of this provision at Linton-on-Ouse.
286 - Initially, those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will be single, adult, males with limited vulnerabilities. To ensure the safety and wellbeing of those allocated accommodation at Linton, an assessment will take place by the Home Office prior to allocation using suitability criteria. The Home office continue to work with Department of Health colleagues to ensure a minimal impact on local health services.
288 - Asylum seekers will be eligible to be accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse at the early stages of their admissible asylum claim case working, after they have been screened. Initially, we will select those staying at hotels and who have applied for asylum support via the submission of an ASF1 form.
289 - Those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will have the ability to access the support of legal representation, either face-to-face or remotely.
287 - Those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will be admissible and have an outstanding asylum claim. Both the design of the Linton-on-Ouse operating model and the proposed site configuration will enable substantive asylum interviews to be undertaken remotely, via video conference.
285 - Asylum Seekers will have their asylum claim considered at Linton-on-Ouse and will reside there until their interview has been completed and case progressed to a decision ready stage. At this point they will be dispersed for their decision to be made and served at Dispersed Accommodation.
290 - Those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will have the ability to access the support of legal representation, either face-to-face or remotely. The Home Office continues to liaise with colleagues in the Ministry of Justice and Legal Aid Agency to finalise the details of this provision at Linton-on-Ouse.
286 - Initially, those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will be single, adult, males with limited vulnerabilities. To ensure the safety and wellbeing of those allocated accommodation at Linton, an assessment will take place by the Home Office prior to allocation using suitability criteria. The Home office continue to work with Department of Health colleagues to ensure a minimal impact on local health services.
288 - Asylum seekers will be eligible to be accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse at the early stages of their admissible asylum claim case working, after they have been screened. Initially, we will select those staying at hotels and who have applied for asylum support via the submission of an ASF1 form.
289 - Those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will have the ability to access the support of legal representation, either face-to-face or remotely.
287 - Those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will be admissible and have an outstanding asylum claim. Both the design of the Linton-on-Ouse operating model and the proposed site configuration will enable substantive asylum interviews to be undertaken remotely, via video conference.
285 - Asylum Seekers will have their asylum claim considered at Linton-on-Ouse and will reside there until their interview has been completed and case progressed to a decision ready stage. At this point they will be dispersed for their decision to be made and served at Dispersed Accommodation.
290 - Those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will have the ability to access the support of legal representation, either face-to-face or remotely. The Home Office continues to liaise with colleagues in the Ministry of Justice and Legal Aid Agency to finalise the details of this provision at Linton-on-Ouse.
286 - Initially, those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will be single, adult, males with limited vulnerabilities. To ensure the safety and wellbeing of those allocated accommodation at Linton, an assessment will take place by the Home Office prior to allocation using suitability criteria. The Home office continue to work with Department of Health colleagues to ensure a minimal impact on local health services.
288 - Asylum seekers will be eligible to be accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse at the early stages of their admissible asylum claim case working, after they have been screened. Initially, we will select those staying at hotels and who have applied for asylum support via the submission of an ASF1 form.
289 - Those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will have the ability to access the support of legal representation, either face-to-face or remotely.
287 - Those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will be admissible and have an outstanding asylum claim. Both the design of the Linton-on-Ouse operating model and the proposed site configuration will enable substantive asylum interviews to be undertaken remotely, via video conference.
285 - Asylum Seekers will have their asylum claim considered at Linton-on-Ouse and will reside there until their interview has been completed and case progressed to a decision ready stage. At this point they will be dispersed for their decision to be made and served at Dispersed Accommodation.
290 - Those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will have the ability to access the support of legal representation, either face-to-face or remotely. The Home Office continues to liaise with colleagues in the Ministry of Justice and Legal Aid Agency to finalise the details of this provision at Linton-on-Ouse.
286 - Initially, those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will be single, adult, males with limited vulnerabilities. To ensure the safety and wellbeing of those allocated accommodation at Linton, an assessment will take place by the Home Office prior to allocation using suitability criteria. The Home office continue to work with Department of Health colleagues to ensure a minimal impact on local health services.
288 - Asylum seekers will be eligible to be accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse at the early stages of their admissible asylum claim case working, after they have been screened. Initially, we will select those staying at hotels and who have applied for asylum support via the submission of an ASF1 form.
289 - Those accommodated at Linton-on-Ouse will have the ability to access the support of legal representation, either face-to-face or remotely.
The Home Office publishes data on immigration in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. As part of that release, data up to December 2021 is available on the following areas:
In addition, data on visas issued under the Ukraine Family Scheme and Ukraine Sponsorship scheme are published weekly on gov.uk: Ukraine Family Scheme and Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) Visa Data - GOV.UK
In the Afghanistan resettlement and immigration policy statement, the Home Office reported that around 15,000 people had been evacuated from Afghanistan through Operation Pitting. In the six months since Operation Pitting, a further 3,000 have been helped to enter the UK.
The Nationality and Borders Act 2022 is part of our New Plan for Immigration, delivering the most comprehensive reform of the asylum system in decades. This Act strengthens the Government-backed routes available to those in need, so they do not have to put their lives in the hands of people smugglers.
As part of the New Plan for Immigration, we are continuing to provide safe and legal routes through the UK Resettlement Scheme, the Community Sponsorship Scheme, the Mandate Resettlement Scheme, the Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme, the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy and an Immigration Route for British National (Overseas) status holders from Hong Kong.
This Government is committed to continue welcoming refugees and others in need of protection from around the globe through resettlement as capacity allows in the years to come.
It is through the New Plan for Immigration we have been able to support the brave people of Ukraine, with over 100,000 visas being issued allowing them to come to the UK.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Relating to PQ 157394
The Home Office publishes data on the number of returns from the UK in each quarter in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly release’. The latest data on returns are published in Ret_D01 where the data are broken down by nationality and return destination group, and Ret_D02 of the returns detailed dataset where the data are broken down by destination. The latest data relate to the year ending September 2021.
Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook.
The Home Office seeks to return people who do not have any legal right to stay in the UK, which includes people who:
Data for October 2021 onwards will be published in future immigration statistics publications. Future immigration statistics publication release dates can be found on the research and statistics calendar.
Relating to PQ 157395:
The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on inadmissibility, including individuals returned, are published in the chapter ‘How many people do we grant asylum or protection to?’.
The latest data cover up to the end of December 2021. The next release, covering January to March 2022, will be published on 26 May 2022. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.
Relating to PQ 157394
The Home Office publishes data on the number of returns from the UK in each quarter in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly release’. The latest data on returns are published in Ret_D01 where the data are broken down by nationality and return destination group, and Ret_D02 of the returns detailed dataset where the data are broken down by destination. The latest data relate to the year ending September 2021.
Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook.
The Home Office seeks to return people who do not have any legal right to stay in the UK, which includes people who:
Data for October 2021 onwards will be published in future immigration statistics publications. Future immigration statistics publication release dates can be found on the research and statistics calendar.
Relating to PQ 157395:
The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on inadmissibility, including individuals returned, are published in the chapter ‘How many people do we grant asylum or protection to?’.
The latest data cover up to the end of December 2021. The next release, covering January to March 2022, will be published on 26 May 2022. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.
The number of staff working in the Home Office to deliver the communications function currently is 134.
129 are employed on full time contracts and 5 are employed on part time contracts.
Working from home is an indicator of a flexible working arrangement and all staff in the Communications Directorate at the Home Office work to a hybrid model.
Expenditure on communications staffing in the Home Office in this financial year is £8.7m.
The UK-based family member for individuals applying to the Ukraine Family Scheme must be: a British National; someone settled in the UK; someone from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland who has pre-settled status and started living in the UK before 1 January 2021; or someone with refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK. The Government has no plans to change these criteria.
However, individuals with at least six months’ permission to be in the UK can sponsor other Ukrainians under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, provided they meet the eligibility criteria.
The Government has no plans to enable Ukrainians to travel to the UK without a visa.
From 15 March, Ukrainians who are eligible for the Ukraine Family Scheme or Homes for Ukraine Scheme with valid passports have been able to apply and get permission to come to the UK, fully online, from wherever they are; and have been able to give their biometrics once in the UK.
Visas are an important security tool. There is a risk hostile actors or other individuals with links to serious and organised crime or corruption could exploit the arrangement to travel to the UK undetected if security checks are not in place and we will not unnecessarily put the UK’s security at risk. Already, people have presented at the border with fake documents pretending to be Ukrainian.
The visa process also allows safeguarding checks to be preformed in relation to vulnerable adults and children travelling to the UK.
Ukrainian nationals will only be able to qualify under the Ukraine Extension Scheme if they were in the UK with immigration permission on 18 March 2022, or if their last permission ended after 1 January 2022. The Government has no plans to change these criteria, although those who's visas expired before this date may be eligible for other routes to regularise their status, providing they meet the eligibility criteria.
The detail of the Government’s differentiation policy will be set out in guidance in due course. The Home Office has solicited views on the guidance from a wide range of external stakeholders, which are currently under careful consideration.
Decision makers will always be expected to consider the individual circumstances and vulnerabilities of an asylum seeker as a part of a grouping decision.
The detail of the Government’s differentiation policy will be set out in guidance in due course. The Home Office has solicited views on the guidance from a wide range of external stakeholders, which are currently under careful consideration.
Decision makers will always be expected to consider the individual circumstances and vulnerabilities of an asylum seeker as a part of a grouping decision.
The detail of the Government’s differentiation policy will be set out in guidance in due course. The Home Office has solicited views on the guidance from a wide range of external stakeholders, which are currently under careful consideration.
Decision makers will always be expected to consider the individual circumstances and vulnerabilities of an asylum seeker as a part of a grouping decision.
The detail of the Government’s differentiation policy will be set out in guidance in due course. The Home Office has solicited views on the guidance from a wide range of external stakeholders, which are currently under careful consideration.
Decision makers will always be expected to consider the individual circumstances and vulnerabilities of an asylum seeker as a part of a grouping decision.
The detail of the Government’s differentiation policy will be set out in guidance in due course. The Home Office has solicited views on the guidance from a wide range of external stakeholders, which are currently under careful consideration.
Decision makers will always be expected to consider the individual circumstances and vulnerabilities of an asylum seeker as a part of a grouping decision.
The detail of the Government’s differentiation policy will be set out in guidance in due course. The Home Office has solicited views on the guidance from a wide range of external stakeholders, which are currently under careful consideration.
Decision makers will always be expected to consider the individual circumstances and vulnerabilities of an asylum seeker as a part of a grouping decision.
The Government has set no limit to the number of people it will accept under the routes announced to support Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, but potential use of these routes is difficult to estimate.
A broad estimate of potential sponsors under the Ukraine Family Scheme can be made, taking Ukrainian nationals with settlement or holding status under the EU Settlement Scheme and Ukrainians granted British citizenship as groups most likely to have familial links with Ukraine. Estimates are based on internal analysis. Data on these groups can be found in published statistics:
Table_Se_D01 of https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1055252/settlement-datasets-dec-2021.xlsx
Table EUSS_NON_EEA_02 of
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/eu-settlement-scheme-quarterly-statistics-december-2021
Ukrainian nationals at Table Cit_D02 of https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1055257/citizenship-datasets-dec-2021.xlsx
The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) provides support for an unlimited additional number of people.
Latest data on applications to come to or stay in the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme or Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine), including totals for visa applications received and visas issued to people is published here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ukraine-family-scheme-application-data
Following the Court of Appeal’s ruling in February last year, the Home Office committed to reviewing the child registration fee in line with its duties under Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009. The Home Office is undertaking a comprehensive review of the fee, which will be finalised shortly, following the Supreme Court judgement of 2 February 2022.
The results will be shared in due course.
Following the Court of Appeal’s ruling in February last year, the Home Office committed to reviewing the child registration fee in line with its duties under Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009. The Home Office is undertaking a comprehensive review of the fee, which will be finalised shortly, following the Supreme Court judgement of 2 February 2022.
The results will be shared in due course.
We sympathise with the many millions of people facing difficult situations around the world, yet there is no provision in the Immigration Rules for someone to be allowed to travel to the UK to claim asylum as it would simply not be practical or sensible to offer a visa to the UK for everyone who might be in this situation.
It is more effective to focus opportunities for resettlement in the UK on the most vulnerable people in need of protection through our resettlement schemes. These schemes have provided safe and legal routes for tens of thousands of people to start new lives in the UK, alongside the many who may also arrive via our family or skilled work routes where they are eligible for them.
The Home Office publishes statistics on people in detention on the last day of each quarter in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on people in detention broken down by asylum and non-asylum related detainees are published in table Det_01 of the ‘Detention summary tables’
The ‘contents’ sheet contains an overview of all available data on detention.
Asylum-related detainees relate to detainees who have claimed asylum at some point. This includes failed asylum seekers as well as those with open claims.
Figures on people in detention at the end of December 2021 will be published on 24 February 2022.
Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.
The Home Office is unable to report what the average duration of the asylum procedure at the first instance is in the UK as this information is not recorded and held in a reportable format.
However, the Home Office does publish data on the number asylum applications awaiting an initial decision by duration. This data can be found at This data can be found at Asy_04 of the published Immigration Statistics:
Information regarding the number of cessations or withdrawals of international protection decisions made by the UK in 2021, and the nationality, and protection status of each applicant subject to those decisions, is not held centrally and to obtain it would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.
Information regarding the number of cessations or withdrawals of international protection decisions made by the UK in 2021, and the nationality, and protection status of each applicant subject to those decisions, is not held centrally and to obtain it would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.
Moving the operation of the Scheme from the Home Office would risk significantly delaying payments to people.
We can understand the concerns of those who believe the department which caused the issues facing these individuals, is the one also deciding whether individuals are eligible to receive compensation or not. In response to these concerns the compensation scheme continues to be subject to robust internal scrutiny and regular scrutiny from external stakeholders.
The first stage in deciding a claim for compensation is to confirm an individual’s identity and eligibility and this is linked to the immigration status of an individual. It would be difficult to decouple this from the Home Office without increasing the time taken to process an individual’s claim and issue payments.
Since the changes we made to the Scheme in December, the amount of compensation paid has risen from less than £3 million to over £32.9 million, with a further £5.8 million having been offered, and there is no cap on the amount of compensation we will pay out.
We will not be extending this scheme,
This was a temporary provision following exceptional circumstances last year. Applications for the route ended on 1 December 2021, with immigration permission ending on 28 February.
The solution to the long standing recruitment issues in the logistics sector is a focus on offering training, better career options, improved working conditions and offering workers the rewarding salaries they deserve. Immigration Policy cannot provide an alternative to this, not least given the widely reported shortages of HGV drivers in the EEA, USA and across the developed world.
The Nationality and Borders Bill is part of our New Plan for Immigration, delivering the most comprehensive reform of the asylum system in decades.
The Bill – and the wider plan – will also help us to tackle the heinous crime of modern slavery and ensure that vulnerable individuals are identified as early as possible so that we can ensure they have access to the right support.
The Bill is fully compliant with our international obligations, including the European Convention on Human Rights.
No one who is at real risk of persecution or serious harm in Afghanistan will be expected to return there, and enforced returns of those who have been refused asylum and have exhausted all rights of appeal are currently paused.
The UK has a proud history of providing protection to those who need it, in accordance with our international obligations.
All asylum claims are considered on a case by case basis and in line with published policy. Claims by Afghan nationals will be considered in the same way as claims from any other nationality.
We do not believe it is appropriate to prioritise claims from one nationality over another as many claimants, irrespective of nationality, are potentially vulnerable and no one is expected to leave the UK while they have a claim outstanding.
The Government is providing safe and legal routes for people from Afghanistan through i) the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme, for employees of the Government, and others who have worked with or alongside the Government, in exceptional circumstances; and ii) the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), which will help up to 20,000 women, children and others who are vulnerable or at risk.
Resettlement routes operate separately to the UK’s in-country asylum system.
Further information about the eligibility criteria can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme
The Nationality and Borders Bill is part of our New Plan for Immigration, delivering the most comprehensive reform of the asylum system in decades.
As previously stated, an economic impact assessment of the Nationality and Borders Bill will be published in due course, to complement the Equality Impact Assessment, which was published on 16 September.
The Equality Impact Assessment can be found on the GOV.UK website; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nationality-and-borders-bill-equality-impact-assessment.
The Government has been reviewing the level of cash support provided to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute and expects to announce the outcome of the review shortly.
The review will take account of current levels of inflation.
The creation of the Immigration Enforcement Competent Authority (IECA) was an internal restructure within the Home Office. A full assessment of the Public Sector Equality Duty was undertaken and in line with our ongoing duty, will be kept under review.
We will conduct reviews of the process and publish data on decision-making times, to ensure consistency and transparency.
Immigration Enforcement’s immediate priority is always the welfare of the individual, and to ensure that all vulnerable migrants receive the support and assistance they need regardless of their immigration status. Immigration Enforcement already make decisions on key safeguarding and vulnerability matters, such as the Adults at Risk policy and human rights decisions and will receive training on NRM decisions.
Deaths in asylum support and accommodation do occur, and in general, mortality rates do not exceed that of the general UK population. This includes deaths from natural causes or long-term terminal illnesses.
The Home Office, through undertaking its statutory duties towards asylum seekers and working with other agencies and organisations, takes a great many steps to safeguard the health, safety and wellbeing of those whom we support. We continue to work closely with a range of organisations to provide support to those that need it and, where necessary, will fully cooperate in any investigation into the cause of an individual’s death.
The specific information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
An economic impact assessment of the Nationality and Borders Bill will be published in due course, to complement the Equality Impact Assessment, which was published on 16 September.
The Equality Impact Assessment can be found on the GOV.UK website; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nationality-and-borders-bill-equality-impact-assessment.
The New Plan for Immigration published by the Home Office on 24 March 2021 included plans to set up Reception Centres to provide basic accommodation for asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute.
As part of these plans, consideration is being given to implementing some of the measures set out in the Nationality Immigration and Asylum 2002 Act which relate to supporting asylum seekers in accommodation centres. There are no plans, whether through measures in the Nationality and Borders Bill or other policy changes, to place people with children in these centres.
As is routine, the Home Office is in dialogue with these organisations on a variety of matters, and where relevant on the Nationality and Borders Bill.
The Nationality and Borders Bill, which is part of our New Plan for Immigration, seeks to build a fair, but firm asylum and illegal migration system.
The measures in the Nationality and Borders Bill relate to matters that are reserved to the UK Parliament, and so we will not be seeking a Legislative Consent Motion on these.
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 and the new route has not been officially launched.
The Home Office publishes data on visas in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of applications and the number of granted applications regarding Temporary Work – Charity Worker visas are published in tables Vis_D01 and Vis_D02 of the entry clearance visas applications and outcomes dataset, respectively.
Please note, for the outcomes of applications data, the year and quarter refer to the date at which the case outcome was decided and not the date at which the application was received. If you wish to calculate the grant rate of Temporary Work – Charity Worker visa applications, it is recommended the best estimate is found by calculating the proportion of the number of grants to the total number of resolved cases for each quarter.
Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates to the year ending June 2021.
Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.
The Home Office publishes data on visas in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of applications and the number of granted applications regarding Temporary Work – Charity Worker visas are published in tables Vis_D01 and Vis_D02 of the entry clearance visas applications and outcomes dataset, respectively.
Please note, for the outcomes of applications data, the year and quarter refer to the date at which the case outcome was decided and not the date at which the application was received. If you wish to calculate the grant rate of Temporary Work – Charity Worker visa applications, it is recommended the best estimate is found by calculating the proportion of the number of grants to the total number of resolved cases for each quarter.
Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates to the year ending June 2021.
Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.
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 and the new route has not been officially launched.
The Home Office has worked closely with the DWP to identify individuals in receipt of benefits who may be eligible but have yet to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). In trying to reach as many people as possible, there were a small number of instances where letters were sent to recipients who were naturalised, or dual British and EU citizens, or had other forms of immigration status.
We have taken a range of steps to ensure EU citizens with status and British citizens were removed from our data matching exercise, including re-running the exercise and establishing a dedicated customer service team to manage queries from those who had received a letter and are British or Irish citizens, or already held a valid immigration status. The helpline number was included in the letter sent out in August.
In September, DWP wrote to benefit holders who had still not applied to the EUSS or confirmed their immigration status in the UK with the Home Office, to determine whether they remained entitled to their benefits. Due to some overlap between the sharing of data lists and the DWP mailout, a small number of individuals were contacted by DWP despite having previously contacted the Home Office to confirm their status. Details of the individuals in this small cohort who have verified their status have now been passed to DWP to remove them from their data lists so no further action to suspend or terminate their benefits is taken as a result of not applying to the EUSS.
Individuals wishing to evidence their eligibility for benefits as a result of a letter received from DWP - including those who are British or Irish citizens or already have immigration status - must contact DWP. DWP will carry out further checks, including with the Home Office, and carefully consider evidence before taking any suspension or termination action.
In response to part (a), we have several bilateral agreements with key third countries that assist in expediting the return of individuals we consider inadmissible. This includes within the EU and other international partners.
In response to part (b), we must consider every possible option to prevent people from putting their lives at risk to make perilous journeys – deterring abuse of the asylum system and criminality associated with it. As part of offshoring, we are in discussion with a number of international partners but will not comment on the detail of individual negotiations. We would only ever work with countries that we know are safe and will treat asylum seekers in accordance with the Refugee Convention and relevant international human rights laws.
The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration is still conducting this inspection and has not yet produced a final report.
Home Official officials have regular dialogue with the Crown Prosecution Service, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service including on the content and impact of clauses 37 and 38 of the Nationality and Borders Bill 2021.
Figures on the number of asylum applicants who have been referred into the National Referral Mechanism and received refugee status, a positive conclusive grounds decision or both are not currently published.
Statistics on the number of individuals referred into the National Referral Mechanism who have received a positive conclusive grounds decision can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-referral-mechanism-statistics and the number of individuals granted refugee status can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-year-ending-june-2021/how-many-people-do-we-grant-asylum-or-protection-to.
The overseas fee waiver policy is being revised to include an assessment of the criterion of affordability for specified applications under the Article 8/human rights route. The revised policy is expected to be published by the end of 2021.
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.
The Home Office holds this information however has obligations under data protection legislation and in law generally to protect personal data. Releasing the information at this time could lead to identification of the individuals, which would breach data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the UK General Data Protection Regulation and section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018.
We continually review our statistical publications and it may be possible in future to list the countries involved without breaching data protection obligations. We will not however provide a running commentary on our negotiations with our international partners.
Assessing someone’s age is an extremely challenging task and it is only right we explore how the current system can be improved by harnessing scientific evidence alongside existing methods. We will be guided by the research and evidence on which scientific methods to use.
The UK is one of the only countries in Europe not to use scientific age assessment methods to help determine a person’s age when they arrive into the country. Various scientific methods are used to assess age in, among others, Sweden, Norway, France, Germany and the Netherlands.
We should not underestimate the significant safeguarding risks there are if an adult were to successfully pass themselves off as a child and be placed in young people’s accommodation or schools. It also reduces the resources available to help genuine asylum-seeking children.
We have already laid marker clauses in the Nationality and Borders Bill on the use of scientific methods of age assessment will shortly bring forward amendments with the full clauses at the committee stage in October
We have returns and readmissions agreements with many countries across the world. These agreements provide a formal operational process for effecting returns and readmissions. Though the nature of these agreements varies, several of these agreements have provisions for returning and readmitting third country nationals.
Treaties that have been signed and ratified are in the public domain and the provisions of these are accessible to all. However, some agreements are not published so as to preserve good international relations or for operational reasons. Whether an agreement contains provisions for third country nationals will depend on the particular agreement.
Fully functioning Aspen cards, including translated instructions on how to activate them, were distributed to all service users via first class post prior to the transition date of 24 May. The majority of eligible card holders had completed this activation process by 24 May and have had access to funds via their card. However, some card holders had yet to successfully activate their card by this date. We continue to work with strategic delivery partners to ensure all cards are successfully received and activated with targeted assistance.
Emergency cash payments (ECPs) are a longstanding operational contingency provision which has been in place for several years. The position on ECPs has not changed, and they have been used to support service users who had issues with their Aspen card over the transition period.
The only element which has changed during the service transition is the value of payments (increasing from £20 to £40 per week) and the fact accommodation providers can now self-authorise Emergency Cash Payments to expedite requests. Emergency Cash Payments will continue to be provided to service users who have not yet activated their new Aspen card.
The Home Office is in regular dialogue with Charites and third sector partners about the support they provide to service users.
Fully functioning Aspen cards, including translated instructions on how to activate them, were distributed to all service users via first class post prior to the transition date of 24 May. The majority of eligible card holders had completed this activation process by 24 May and have had access to funds via their card. However, some card holders had yet to successfully activate their card by this date. We continue to work with strategic delivery partners to ensure all cards are successfully received and activated with targeted assistance.
Emergency cash payments (ECPs) are a longstanding operational contingency provision which has been in place for several years. The position on ECPs has not changed, and they have been used to support service users who had issues with their Aspen card over the transition period.
The only element which has changed during the service transition is the value of payments (increasing from £20 to £40 per week) and the fact accommodation providers can now self-authorise Emergency Cash Payments to expedite requests. Emergency Cash Payments will continue to be provided to service users who have not yet activated their new Aspen card.
The Home Office is in regular dialogue with Charites and third sector partners about the support they provide to service users.
Fully functioning Aspen cards, including translated instructions on how to activate them, were distributed to all service users via first class post prior to the transition date of 24 May. The majority of eligible card holders had completed this activation process by 24 May and have had access to funds via their card. However, some card holders had yet to successfully activate their card by this date. We continue to work with strategic delivery partners to ensure all cards are successfully received and activated with targeted assistance.
Emergency cash payments (ECPs) are a longstanding operational contingency provision which has been in place for several years. The position on ECPs has not changed, and they have been used to support service users who had issues with their Aspen card over the transition period.
The only element which has changed during the service transition is the value of payments (increasing from £20 to £40 per week) and the fact accommodation providers can now self-authorise Emergency Cash Payments to expedite requests. Emergency Cash Payments will continue to be provided to service users who have not yet activated their new Aspen card.
The Home Office is in regular dialogue with Charites and third sector partners about the support they provide to service users.
The New Plan for Immigration will deliver a fair but firm asylum system. We have a proud history of providing to protection to those who need it, and all policy measures will uphold our legal obligations, including the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.
Weekly payments are continuously accruing on Aspen cards for eligible asylum seekers, even if they have not yet received or activated their new card. Once successfully activated, service users can access their accrued funds, therefore no back-payments will be required.
The vast majority of cards have been activated and payments were available for those without ASPEN access.
The position on emergency cash payments and reconciliation of balances will be reviewed in due course.
Where an EEA citizen has reasonable grounds for missing the EUSS application deadline, they will be given an opportunity to make a late application.
Any EEA citizen encountered by Immigration Enforcement after 30 June 2021, who may be eligible to apply to the EUSS, will be issued with a notice which provides a further 28 days for the individual to submit their application. Further information will be provided to employers shortly about what they should do if they have an employee who finds themself in this situation.
Each individual case will be considered on its own merits.
Where an EEA citizen has reasonable grounds for missing the EUSS application deadline, they will be given an opportunity to make a late application.
Any EEA citizen encountered by Immigration Enforcement after 30 June 2021, who may be eligible to apply to the EUSS, will be issued with a notice which provides a further 28 days for the individual to submit their application. Further information will be provided to employers shortly about what they should do if they have an employee who finds themself in this situation.
Each individual case will be considered on its own merits.
Our expectation is that in almost all cases, admissibility considerations will be informed by evidence obtained by officials, usually through physical evidence found or submitted by an applicant, or disclosed to them by an applicant at first contact or in subsequent interviews or meetings. International data-sharing may also provide relevant information. There may conceivably be cases where third party evidence is relevant and valuable to such considerations - it would depend on the specific nature of the information and the circumstances in which it was obtained, recorded and passed to the Home Office. Any such evidence and its provenance would always be carefully scrutinised by officials. Where the evidence was material to the decision and contentious, an applicant would have the opportunity to address this before any action to remove proceeded.
Information provided in confidence to medical professionals would not ordinarily be used by officials when making inadmissibility decisions. However, applicants may choose to ask for such information to be considered and provide it to caseworkers themselves, or consent in writing to disclosure.
Our expectation is that in almost all cases, admissibility considerations will be informed by evidence obtained by officials, usually through physical evidence found or submitted by an applicant, or disclosed to them by an applicant at first contact or in subsequent interviews or meetings. International data-sharing may also provide relevant information. There may conceivably be cases where third party evidence is relevant and valuable to such considerations - it would depend on the specific nature of the information and the circumstances in which it was obtained, recorded and passed to the Home Office. Any such evidence and its provenance would always be carefully scrutinised by officials. Where the evidence was material to the decision and contentious, an applicant would have the opportunity to address this before any action to remove proceeded.
Information provided in confidence to medical professionals would not ordinarily be used by officials when making inadmissibility decisions. However, applicants may choose to ask for such information to be considered and provide it to caseworkers themselves, or consent in writing to disclosure.
We will continue to issue Notices of Intent in line with the Immigration Rules and our published policy. It is right that we consider inadmissibility action and explore all reasonable removal options where there is evidence that someone applying for asylum in the UK was in a safe third country and already has been: granted asylum; had a claim for asylum rejected as unfounded; or had reasonable opportunity to claim asylum there but failed to do so.
The published policy is clear that this consideration is not open-ended: in broad terms, a case must be admitted for substantive consideration in the UK asylum system if it is concluded that there are no reasonable prospects of an EU state, including France, or any other safe country, agreeing to the person’s return, or if no such agreement has been secured within a maximum of 6 months. (This 6-month timescale does not apply to the period after a country agrees to an individual’s return, during which time practical arrangements for the removal will be confirmed and, if necessary, enforcement action taken.)
This system will not introduce significant delays either for individuals entering the asylum system, or the asylum system as a whole.
We will continue to issue Notices of Intent in line with the Immigration Rules and our published policy. It is right that we consider inadmissibility action and explore all reasonable removal options where there is evidence that someone applying for asylum in the UK was in a safe third country and already has been: granted asylum; had a claim for asylum rejected as unfounded; or had reasonable opportunity to claim asylum there but failed to do so.
The published policy is clear that this consideration is not open-ended: in broad terms, a case must be admitted for substantive consideration in the UK asylum system if it is concluded that there are no reasonable prospects of an EU state, including France, or any other safe country, agreeing to the person’s return, or if no such agreement has been secured within a maximum of 6 months. (This 6-month timescale does not apply to the period after a country agrees to an individual’s return, during which time practical arrangements for the removal will be confirmed and, if necessary, enforcement action taken.)
This system will not introduce significant delays either for individuals entering the asylum system, or the asylum system as a whole.
Figures on the number of asylum application decisions made in the first quarter of 2021 are due to be published on 27 May 2021. We are working to bring inadmissibility data in line with current reporting and hope to publish that information in the same timeframe.
Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.
Figures on the number of asylum application decisions made in the first quarter of 2021 are due to be published on 27 May 2021. We are working to bring inadmissibility data in line with current reporting and hope to publish that information in the same timeframe.
Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.
Work from the former Third Country Unit was separated in April 2019 with returns related activity moving to the National Returns Command.
Initial decision making on the latest inadmissibility provisions also sits within the National Returns Command. The National Returns Command currently has 584 staff in post.
An equality impact assessment covering the inadmissibility rules changes will be published in the near future.
From 1 July right-to-work checks will change, and all EEA citizens will be required to demonstrate they have a right to work through evidence of their immigration status, rather than their nationality.
We will be updating our guidance and communicating with employers in the coming weeks to set out the support available and ensure they are clear on the steps they should take at the end of the grace period.
The number of cases being worked through the Windrush Compensation Scheme as of 21 April are 1417. Of these 1417 cases:
Windrush Compensation Scheme staff continue to work hard to resolve these claims from the moment they are received and individuals are provided with an update on the progress of their claim on a monthly basis as a minimum, unless they have requested otherwise. A case is finally closed when an individual accepts a final offer or an application to the Scheme is unsuccessful as it does not meet the criteria. All claims will have been considered for a preliminary payment of £10,000 within 6 weeks of eligibility being confirmed under the terms of the Scheme, including these open applications. A preliminary payment is offered as soon as we receive the minimum level of information required to show that they will be entitled to compensation under the Scheme. Some of these people may also have received an urgent and exceptional payment. This policy remains available for those who have an urgent and exceptional need that cannot wait for a payment to be made under the Windrush Compensation Scheme. As of 25 March 2021, the Scheme had offered 362 preliminary awards (totalling £3,620,000); of which 255 (£2,550,000) had been accepted. 228 awards (£2,280,000) had been paid.
That said, each person’s claim is deeply personal and requires careful and detailed consideration to understand their individual circumstances and experiences. There are 13 different categories of claim and some individuals’ experiences are more complex than others and it is right we take the time to ensure these are considered carefully. We want people to receive the maximum compensation to which they are entitled and work closely with individuals, for example by contacting other government departments and third parties to help gather evidence to support their claim.
This holistic approach necessarily takes time but is ultimately beneficial to individuals.
Data on the number of claims received and the number of payments made is published as part of the regular transparency data release which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/windrush-compensation-scheme-data-march-2021.
Since April 2019 the Scheme has paid or offered £18 million. Of this, more than £6.1 million have been accepted and paid, an increase of £2 million in one month.
We have made fundamental improvements to the Scheme to ensure people receive significantly more money, more quickly. We increased the value of awards for impact on life at every level so everyone will be paid more in this category, with the maximum award increasing from £10,000 to £100,000 (with options for even higher awards in exceptional circumstances).
Within six weeks of these changes, we had offered more than we had in the first 19 months of the scheme (at the end of January we had offered £12m) and since the end of December we have more than doubled the amount of compensation paid to individuals (from £2.8m to £6.1m).
In December 2018, the Home Office established an Urgent and Exceptional Payments process for those members of the Windrush generation who had an urgent and exceptional need in advance of the Windrush Compensation Scheme. The process remains open for those who need it. The total value of the payments approved as of 29 March 2021 is £104,338.58.
It is very regrettable that a claimant passes away before a compensation award can be made or an apology sent to them.
The Windrush Compensation Scheme staff are working hard to ensure that where they are aware of claimants with critical or life shortening illnesses, that their cases are prioritised.
In the deeply unfortunate circumstances where a claimant has passed away after submitting a compensation claim, but before the claim is fully resolved, the team continues to work closely with the appointed representative, usually members of the family, to ensure the compensation payment is made as quickly as possible to that family member.
Out of the 1,996 applications made to the Windrush Compensation Scheme, we are aware of 21 cases to date where unfortunately the claimant has passed away after having submitted a claim but before receiving compensation. We are working closely with the families and legal representatives to determine the right person to whom the compensation can be paid as quickly as possible.
It must be noted that this data is manually recorded and is reliant on the person receiving the information on an applicant notifying the Windrush Compensation Scheme to record this information. The data isn’t recorded in a reportable field in the casework system.
We are committed to ensuring our operational teams have the resources they need to run an efficient and effective system, and we actively monitor workflows to ensure sufficient resources are in place to meet demand. We currently have 1,500 UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) European Casework staff in post.
In line with the Withdrawal Agreement, the rights of someone who has made a valid application to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) before the deadline of 30 June 2021 will be protected while the outcome of the application is pending. This includes any appeal against a decision to refuse status.
Someone who applies by 30 June 2021 and has not yet been granted status under the EUSS can continue to live their life in the UK as now, until their application is finally determined.
Employers and landlords should provide individuals with every opportunity to demonstrate their right to work and rent and should not discriminate on the basis of race or any of the other protected characteristics.
Legislation provides for a Code of Practice on avoiding unlawful discrimination at:
From 1 July, individuals who have made an in time application and are awaiting a decision on their application, will be able to utilise their Certificate of Application as proof of their right to work or rent when verified by Home Office status checking services.
Data on the number of claims received and the number of payment made is published as part of the regular transparency data release which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/windrush-compensation-scheme-data-march-2021.
Each person’s claim is deeply personal and requires careful and detailed consideration to understand their individual circumstances and experiences. There are thirteen different categories of claim and some individuals’ experiences are more complex than others and it is right we take the time to ensure these are considered carefully. We want people to receive the maximum compensation to which they are entitled and work closely with individuals, for example by contacting other government departments and third parties to help gather evidence to support their claim.
This holistic approach necessarily takes time but is ultimately beneficial to individuals. The average calendar days from the date the claim was received to a Full and Final payment date is 434, as at 31st January 2021.
However, we recognise that we need to go further and faster which is why, following feedback from the Windrush Cross Government Working Group, members of the Windrush generation, community leaders and those affected, we have made fundamental improvements to the Scheme to ensure people receive significantly more money, more quickly. As we continue to make decisions on the oldest cases, we expect to see the time taken from application to final decision fall significantly in the coming months.
Representatives of the estate of affected individuals who have sadly passed away can claim compensation. Close family members of an eligible primary claimant, including in cases where the primary claimant has died, can also make a claim for compensation in their own right. Guidance and claim forms are available on GOV.UK
The specific information requested on the number of Windrush Scheme overseas applicants who had passed away before the application process was completed is not included in statistical data published by the Home Office.
The Home Secretary provides updates to the Home Affairs Select Committee on the work of the department in connection with Windrush.
The updates can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/correspondence-on-the-work-of-the-home-office-windrush.
The Home Office and its accommodation provider Clearsprings Ready Homes (CRH) is working closely with the partners at Hywel Dda Health Board, to ensure steps can be taken to ensure they have enough medication and continuity of care is maintained.
Transfers from Penally have taken place for several weeks to longer-term dispersal accommodation and well-developed relationships are in place to ensure receiving health boards are aware of new arrivals to their area.
The Home Office is unable to report what the average duration of the asylum procedure at the first instance is in the UK as this information is not recorded and held in a reportable format.
However, the Home Office does publish data on the number asylum applications awaiting an initial decision by duration. This data can be found at This data can be found at Asy_04 of the published Immigration Statistics:
The Home Office does not hold records relating to the duration of individual Dublin claims in 2020 and are unable to provide an average figure.
Information regarding the number of cessation of international protection decisions made by the UK in 2020, and the nationality and protection status of each applicant subject to those decisions, is not held centrally and to obtain it would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.
Information regarding the number of withdrawal of international protection decisions made by the UK in 2020, and the nationality and protection status of each applicant subject to those decisions, is not held centrally and to obtain it would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.
We have good longstanding migration relationships with many countries including through formal returns and readmission agreements with the countries listed in the question. The content of such agreements varies in scope. Some of the agreements are published on Gov.UK or are in the public domain. However, some agreements are not published so as to preserve good international relations or for operational reasons.
We have good longstanding migration relationships with many countries including through formal returns and readmission agreements with the countries listed in the question. The content of such agreements varies in scope. Some of the agreements are published on Gov.UK or are in the public domain. However, some agreements are not published so as to preserve good international relations or for operational reasons.
The Home Office publishes statistics on people in detention on the last day of each quarter in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release(opens in a new tab)’. Data on people in detention under immigration powers, are published in Table Det_03a of the ‘Detention summary tables(opens in a new tab)’
The ‘contents’ sheet contains an overview of all available data on detention.
Figures on people in detention at the end of December 2020 will be published on 25 February 2021.
The table below sets out the operational capacity for each immigration removal centre (if all rooms and beds are in use) and the current occupancy rate as of 28 January 2021.
IRC | Total Operating Capacity 2021 | Current occupancy rate as of 28 January 2021 |
Brook House | 448 | 11 |
Colnbrook | 330 | 30 |
Dungavel House | 125 | 21 |
Harmondsworth | 635 | 108 |
Morton Hall | 352 | 90 |
Tinsley House | 162 | 0 |
Yarl’s Wood | 410 | 30 |
Total | 2462 | 290 |
In order to meet operational needs and demands, we will continue to operate the immigration removal estate, in a flexible manner.
Asylum seekers accommodated are not detained and so are free to come and go, but are required to follow Covid-19 regulations (including observing a period of self-isolation where required in line with regulations). Movements in and out of sites are monitored and managed, for safety reasons. Asylum seekers are expected to stay in accommodation overnight, and a welfare call is made to anyone not on site by 10pm.
Those working at the sites are also free to come and go freely, again in line with Covid-19 regulations.
The Ministry of Defence has given permission to use the sites for 12 months. The use of contingency initial accommodation is temporary, and we will discontinue it as soon as we are able.
Asylum seekers accommodated are not detained and so are free to come and go, but are required to follow Covid-19 regulations (including observing a period of self-isolation where required in line with regulations). Movements in and out of sites are monitored and managed, for safety reasons. Asylum seekers are expected to stay in accommodation overnight, and a welfare call is made to anyone not on site by 10pm.
Those working at the sites are also free to come and go freely, again in line with Covid-19 regulations.
The Ministry of Defence has given permission to use the sites for 12 months. The use of contingency initial accommodation is temporary, and we will discontinue it as soon as we are able.
Asylum seekers accommodated are not detained and so are free to come and go, but are required to follow Covid-19 regulations (including observing a period of self-isolation where required in line with regulations). Movements in and out of sites are monitored and managed, for safety reasons. Asylum seekers are expected to stay in accommodation overnight, and a welfare call is made to anyone not on site by 10pm.
Those working at the sites are also free to come and go freely, again in line with Covid-19 regulations.
The Ministry of Defence has given permission to use the sites for 12 months. The use of contingency initial accommodation is temporary, and we will discontinue it as soon as we are able.
Our accommodation providers will accommodate visits from legal representatives, NGOs and health professions wherever possible and appropriate provided they have prior notice (except for in the event of an emergency) and social distance guidelines are followed.
We do not hold information on the number of visits made to alternative accommodation.
Our accommodation providers will accommodate visits from legal representatives, NGOs and health professions wherever possible and appropriate provided they have prior notice (except for in the event of an emergency) and social distance guidelines are followed.
We do not hold information on the number of visits made to alternative accommodation.
Asylum seekers who have made an application for support and accommodation are accommodated in temporary “initial” accommodation while they are waiting for their support application to be considered. The current pandemic is resulting in people being accommodated in initial accommodation for longer than usual before being dispersed.
We do not publish the information requested, although the number of asylum seekers accommodated in each local authority can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets#asylum-support
The Home Office does not detain anyone in temporary asylum accommodation. Our accommodation providers do not have enforcement powers and those we are accommodating are free to come and go as they please.
We do not publish data on the length of time spent in initial or temporary accommodation.
The safety and health of people detained in our care is of the utmost importance. The Home Office has robust contingency plans in place and continues to follow national guidance issued by Public Health England (PHE), Health Protection Scotland and the National Health Service (NHS).
All immigration removal centres (IRCs) have communicable disease contingency plans, based on PHE advice, and dedicated health facilities run by doctors and nurses which are managed by the NHS or appropriate providers. Detained individuals arriving at IRCs are medically assessed by a nurse within two hours of their arrival, are offered an appointment with a doctor within 24 hours and have access to medical assistance throughout their detention. Additionally, all admissions to Heathrow, Gatwick, Yarl’s Wood and Dungavel IRCs are offered a Covid-19 test on arrival at the IRC.
COVID-19 vaccinations are at the centre of the Government’s plan to ensure life can return to normal as soon as possible. Detailed planning is underway between the Home Office, NHS and Public Health Authorities to prepare for the delivery of vaccinations in IRCs when they become available. Vaccinations in IRCs will be administered by the NHS, or other commissioned healthcare service provider.
The decision about who will be eligible for the vaccine in Health and Justice settings, which includes IRCs, is being decided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) in line with JCVI priorities 1 – 9, with NHS plans in place to have offered a first vaccine dose to all those in priority groups 1-4 by mid- February.
Two former Ministry of Defence sites, Napier Barracks and Penally Training Camp are currently in use. We continue to explore further options to ensure that we continue meet our statutory obligations to support and accommodate destitute asylum seekers at all times.
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, we have taken decisive action to ensure that those seeking asylum in the United Kingdom have the support they need.
We have provided accommodation and support for everyone in the asylum system, including those whose applications have been rejected and new applicants who have claimed.
Given the unique challenges over recent months, it has been necessary to use additional hotel accommodation and two former Ministry of Defence sites in Napier and Penally, on a temporary, contingency basis to ensure there is always sufficient capacity to deliver our statutory obligations to destitute asylum seekers. We continue to examine further options to ensure we maintain the robustness of our contingency planning and take full account of all relevant factors in doing so, engaging with partner organisations as necessary.
Multi-agency forums including public health partners and emergency services were established when the Minister of Defence sites were stood up and these continue to meet regularly.
The safety and health of people in the detention estate is of the utmost importance. The Home Office has robust contingency plans in place and continues to follow national guidance issued by Public Health England (PHE), Health Protection Scotland and the National Health Service (NHS).
All immigration removal centres (IRCs) have communicable disease contingency plans, based on PHE advice, and dedicated health facilities run by doctors and nurses which are managed by the NHS or appropriate providers. Detained individuals arriving at IRCs are medically assessed by a nurse within two hours of their arrival, are offered an appointment with a doctor within 24 hours and have access to medical assistance throughout their detention. In addition, we are in the process of rolling out COVID 19 testing on reception in all IRCs.
Increased asylum intake, alongside measures taken to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, has meant that the Home Office has had to deal with growing demand for asylum support and accommodation services.
In recent months we have faced additional challenges which have required us in some instances to use contingency accommodation, including hotels, to fulfil or statutory obligations to house destitute asylum seekers whilst their claims are examined.
Even with the use of hotels, there has remained the need to increase capacity further to ensure statutory obligations are met at all times. Following a review of available government property, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) agreed to temporarily hand over two of their sites: the Penally Training Camp in Pembrokeshire and the Napier Barracks in Kent.
These sites were immediately available to be used to house asylum seekers and are safe, secure, habitable, fit for purpose and correctly equipped in line with existing contractual requirements for asylum accommodation.
In order to reduce the use of such contingency accommodation we have been working closely with local authorities and devolved administrations to identify opportunities to increase the amount of dispersal accommodation available and to assist those that are no longer eligible for asylum support to ‘move-on’ from asylum accommodation.
It remains our intention to move all individuals in contingency accommodation into suitable dispersed accommodation as soon as reasonably practical; however, our immediate priority is to ensure that we continue to meet our legal duty to house destitute asylum seekers and ensure their safety and well-being.
The Home Office does not detain anyone in temporary asylum accommodation. Our accommodation providers do not have enforcement powers and those we are accommodating are free to come and go as they please.
We do not publish the information requested, although the number of asylum seekers accommodated in each local authority can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets#asylum-support
Two former Ministry of Defence sites, Napier Barracks and Penally Training Camp are currently in use. We continue to explore further options to ensure that we continue meet our statutory obligations to support and accommodate destitute asylum seekers at all times.
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, we have taken decisive action to ensure that those seeking asylum in the United Kingdom have the support they need.
We have provided accommodation and support for everyone in the asylum system, including those whose applications have been rejected and new applicants who have claimed.
Given the unique challenges over recent months, it has been necessary to use additional hotel accommodation and two former Ministry of Defence sites in Napier and Penally, on a temporary, contingency basis to ensure there is always sufficient capacity to deliver our statutory obligations to destitute asylum seekers. We continue to examine further options to ensure we maintain the robustness of our contingency planning and take full account of all relevant factors in doing so, engaging with partner organisations as necessary.
Multi-agency forums including public health partners and emergency services were established when the Minister of Defence sites were stood up and these continue to meet regularly.
The safety and health of people in the detention estate is of the utmost importance. The Home Office has robust contingency plans in place and continues to follow national guidance issued by Public Health England (PHE), Health Protection Scotland and the National Health Service (NHS).
All immigration removal centres (IRCs) have communicable disease contingency plans, based on PHE advice, and dedicated health facilities run by doctors and nurses which are managed by the NHS or appropriate providers. Detained individuals arriving at IRCs are medically assessed by a nurse within two hours of their arrival, are offered an appointment with a doctor within 24 hours and have access to medical assistance throughout their detention. In addition, we are in the process of rolling out COVID 19 testing on reception in all IRCs.
Increased asylum intake, alongside measures taken to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, has meant that the Home Office has had to deal with growing demand for asylum support and accommodation services.
In recent months we have faced additional challenges which have required us in some instances to use contingency accommodation, including hotels, to fulfil or statutory obligations to house destitute asylum seekers whilst their claims are examined.
Even with the use of hotels, there has remained the need to increase capacity further to ensure statutory obligations are met at all times. Following a review of available government property, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) agreed to temporarily hand over two of their sites: the Penally Training Camp in Pembrokeshire and the Napier Barracks in Kent.
These sites were immediately available to be used to house asylum seekers and are safe, secure, habitable, fit for purpose and correctly equipped in line with existing contractual requirements for asylum accommodation.
In order to reduce the use of such contingency accommodation we have been working closely with local authorities and devolved administrations to identify opportunities to increase the amount of dispersal accommodation available and to assist those that are no longer eligible for asylum support to ‘move-on’ from asylum accommodation.
It remains our intention to move all individuals in contingency accommodation into suitable dispersed accommodation as soon as reasonably practical; however, our immediate priority is to ensure that we continue to meet our legal duty to house destitute asylum seekers and ensure their safety and well-being.
The Home Office does not detain anyone in temporary asylum accommodation. Our accommodation providers do not have enforcement powers and those we are accommodating are free to come and go as they please.
We do not publish the information requested, although the number of asylum seekers accommodated in each local authority can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets#asylum-support
Two former Ministry of Defence sites, Napier Barracks and Penally Training Camp are currently in use. We continue to explore further options to ensure that we continue meet our statutory obligations to support and accommodate destitute asylum seekers at all times.
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, we have taken decisive action to ensure that those seeking asylum in the United Kingdom have the support they need.
We have provided accommodation and support for everyone in the asylum system, including those whose applications have been rejected and new applicants who have claimed.
Given the unique challenges over recent months, it has been necessary to use additional hotel accommodation and two former Ministry of Defence sites in Napier and Penally, on a temporary, contingency basis to ensure there is always sufficient capacity to deliver our statutory obligations to destitute asylum seekers. We continue to examine further options to ensure we maintain the robustness of our contingency planning and take full account of all relevant factors in doing so, engaging with partner organisations as necessary.
Multi-agency forums including public health partners and emergency services were established when the Minister of Defence sites were stood up and these continue to meet regularly.
The safety and health of people in the detention estate is of the utmost importance. The Home Office has robust contingency plans in place and continues to follow national guidance issued by Public Health England (PHE), Health Protection Scotland and the National Health Service (NHS).
All immigration removal centres (IRCs) have communicable disease contingency plans, based on PHE advice, and dedicated health facilities run by doctors and nurses which are managed by the NHS or appropriate providers. Detained individuals arriving at IRCs are medically assessed by a nurse within two hours of their arrival, are offered an appointment with a doctor within 24 hours and have access to medical assistance throughout their detention. In addition, we are in the process of rolling out COVID 19 testing on reception in all IRCs.
Increased asylum intake, alongside measures taken to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, has meant that the Home Office has had to deal with growing demand for asylum support and accommodation services.
In recent months we have faced additional challenges which have required us in some instances to use contingency accommodation, including hotels, to fulfil or statutory obligations to house destitute asylum seekers whilst their claims are examined.
Even with the use of hotels, there has remained the need to increase capacity further to ensure statutory obligations are met at all times. Following a review of available government property, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) agreed to temporarily hand over two of their sites: the Penally Training Camp in Pembrokeshire and the Napier Barracks in Kent.
These sites were immediately available to be used to house asylum seekers and are safe, secure, habitable, fit for purpose and correctly equipped in line with existing contractual requirements for asylum accommodation.
In order to reduce the use of such contingency accommodation we have been working closely with local authorities and devolved administrations to identify opportunities to increase the amount of dispersal accommodation available and to assist those that are no longer eligible for asylum support to ‘move-on’ from asylum accommodation.
It remains our intention to move all individuals in contingency accommodation into suitable dispersed accommodation as soon as reasonably practical; however, our immediate priority is to ensure that we continue to meet our legal duty to house destitute asylum seekers and ensure their safety and well-being.
The Home Office does not detain anyone in temporary asylum accommodation. Our accommodation providers do not have enforcement powers and those we are accommodating are free to come and go as they please.
We do not publish the information requested, although the number of asylum seekers accommodated in each local authority can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets#asylum-support
The Home Office does not publish data on the number of asylum applications made at the Asylum Intake Unit at Kent or breakdown data on claims made at Kent that are (a) detained in military barracks and other such temporary alternative asylum accommodation sites, (b) detained in immigration detention centres and (c) placed in hotels and other such asylum accommodation under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
However, the Home Office does publish data on how many people applied for asylum broken down by location (in-country or at Port) and can be found in the Immigration Statistics;, Asy_D01: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets
Additionally, the Home Office does publish data on the number of asylum seekers accommodated in each local authority and can be found in the Immigration Statistics: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets#asylum-support
Furthermore, the Home Office does not detain anyone in supported temporary asylum accommodation. Our accommodation providers do not have enforcement powers and those we are accommodating have free movement.
Two former Ministry of Defence sites, Napier Barracks and Penally Training Camp are currently in use. We continue to explore further options to ensure that we continue meet our statutory obligations to support and accommodate destitute asylum seekers at all times.
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, we have taken decisive action to ensure that those seeking asylum in the United Kingdom have the support they need.
We have provided accommodation and support for everyone in the asylum system, including those whose applications have been rejected and new applicants who have claimed.
Given the unique challenges over recent months, it has been necessary to use additional hotel accommodation and two former Ministry of Defence sites in Napier and Penally, on a temporary, contingency basis to ensure there is always sufficient capacity to deliver our statutory obligations to destitute asylum seekers. We continue to examine further options to ensure we maintain the robustness of our contingency planning and take full account of all relevant factors in doing so, engaging with partner organisations as necessary.
Multi-agency forums including public health partners and emergency services were established when the Minister of Defence sites were stood up and these continue to meet regularly.
The safety and health of people in the detention estate is of the utmost importance. The Home Office has robust contingency plans in place and continues to follow national guidance issued by Public Health England (PHE), Health Protection Scotland and the National Health Service (NHS).
All immigration removal centres (IRCs) have communicable disease contingency plans, based on PHE advice, and dedicated health facilities run by doctors and nurses which are managed by the NHS or appropriate providers. Detained individuals arriving at IRCs are medically assessed by a nurse within two hours of their arrival, are offered an appointment with a doctor within 24 hours and have access to medical assistance throughout their detention. In addition, we are in the process of rolling out COVID 19 testing on reception in all IRCs.
Increased asylum intake, alongside measures taken to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, has meant that the Home Office has had to deal with growing demand for asylum support and accommodation services.
In recent months we have faced additional challenges which have required us in some instances to use contingency accommodation, including hotels, to fulfil or statutory obligations to house destitute asylum seekers whilst their claims are examined.
Even with the use of hotels, there has remained the need to increase capacity further to ensure statutory obligations are met at all times. Following a review of available government property, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) agreed to temporarily hand over two of their sites: the Penally Training Camp in Pembrokeshire and the Napier Barracks in Kent.
These sites were immediately available to be used to house asylum seekers and are safe, secure, habitable, fit for purpose and correctly equipped in line with existing contractual requirements for asylum accommodation.
In order to reduce the use of such contingency accommodation we have been working closely with local authorities and devolved administrations to identify opportunities to increase the amount of dispersal accommodation available and to assist those that are no longer eligible for asylum support to ‘move-on’ from asylum accommodation.
It remains our intention to move all individuals in contingency accommodation into suitable dispersed accommodation as soon as reasonably practical; however, our immediate priority is to ensure that we continue to meet our legal duty to house destitute asylum seekers and ensure their safety and well-being.
The Home Office does not detain anyone in temporary asylum accommodation. Our accommodation providers do not have enforcement powers and those we are accommodating are free to come and go as they please.
We do not publish the information requested, although the number of asylum seekers accommodated in each local authority can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets#asylum-support
The Home Office publishes data on asylum applications in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of asylum applications are published in Table Asy_D01 and data on the number and type of asylum initial decisions are published in table Asy_D02 of the Asylum and Resettlement datasets.
Figures on the number of asylum application decisions made in the first quarter of 2021 are due to be published on 27 May 2021. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’. We are working to bring inadmissibility decisions in line with current reporting and hope to publish that information in the same timeframe.
We are reviewing the cases of those who claimed asylum before 1 January and their suitability for decision-making under the new rules. If it is appropriate for any claimants to receive decisions under the new provisions, they will be informed of that, in line with the Home Office published policy guidance.
The Home Office current published guidance is clear that we will serve an inadmissibility decision only when an individual’s return is agreed by a third country. The Home Office continues to work closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development to secure agreements to enable returns to be made. Any case where return is not possible within 6 months from the date of claim will be admitted to the asylum process and will have their asylum claim substantively considered in the UK.
Information on the Home Office inadmissibility rules can be found on gov.uk under ‘Inadmissibility: third country cases’.
The Home Office publishes data on asylum applications in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of asylum applications are published in Table Asy_D01 and data on the number and type of asylum initial decisions are published in table Asy_D02 of the Asylum and Resettlement datasets.
Figures on the number of asylum application decisions made in the first quarter of 2021 are due to be published on 27 May 2021. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’. We are working to bring inadmissibility decisions in line with current reporting and hope to publish that information in the same timeframe.
We are reviewing the cases of those who claimed asylum before 1 January and their suitability for decision-making under the new rules. If it is appropriate for any claimants to receive decisions under the new provisions, they will be informed of that, in line with the Home Office published policy guidance.
The Home Office current published guidance is clear that we will serve an inadmissibility decision only when an individual’s return is agreed by a third country. The Home Office continues to work closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development to secure agreements to enable returns to be made. Any case where return is not possible within 6 months from the date of claim will be admitted to the asylum process and will have their asylum claim substantively considered in the UK.
Information on the Home Office inadmissibility rules can be found on gov.uk under ‘Inadmissibility: third country cases’.
The Home Office has run three bursts of marketing campaigns for the EU Settlement Scheme, spending £4.6 million, with the latest running throughout December 2020, to encourage EU citizens across the UK to apply. Nearly 4.9 million applications to the scheme had been received by 31 December 2020.
In line with the Withdrawal Agreement, the Government has made clear where a person has reasonable grounds for missing the 30 June 2021 deadline for applications to the EU Settlement Scheme by EU citizens and their family members resident in the UK by the end of the transition period, they will be given a further opportunity to apply.
Non-exhaustive guidance will be published on what constitutes such reasonable grounds, to underpin a flexible and pragmatic approach to considering late applications under the scheme, based on the circumstances of each case.
The Home Office has continued to receive and process thousands of applications daily to the EU Settlement Scheme throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This resulted in nearly 4.9 million applications had been received by 31 December 2020.
Support for applicants who need it has remained available, including from the EU Settlement Resolution Centre and the network of now 72 organisations across the UK grant-funded by the Home Office to help vulnerable people apply to the scheme.
In line with the Withdrawal Agreement, the Government has made clear where a person has reasonable grounds for missing the 30 June 2021 deadline for applications to the EU Settlement Scheme by EU citizens and their family members resident in the UK by the end of the transition period, they will be given a further opportunity to apply.
Published guidance for EUSS applicants on the impact of COVID-19 is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-eu-settlement-scheme-guidance-for-applicants.
Whilst we hold data on the current addresses of asylum claimants, data on the place of residence at the time they made an in-country asylum application could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
However, the Home Office does publish data on how many people applied for asylum in each of the last five years, broken down by location (in-country or at Port) found in the Immigration Statistics, Asy_D01:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets
The Home Office are unable to state how many people applied for asylum at Scottish ports and airports in each of the last five years as the Home Office do not publish this data.
However, the Home Office do publish data to state how many people applied for asylum in each of the last five years, broken down by location (in-country or at Port) found in the Immigration Statistics, Asy_D01:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets
Immigration Enforcement is responding to the unique circumstances of the COVID-19 outbreak and following the latest guidance from Public Health England (PHE). The safety of those detained, our staff and our suppliers' staff are our utmost priority.
In agreement with Public Health England, we have temporarily closed Brook House for a short period due to a number of positive COVID-19 cases among staff. A very small number of detained individuals remaining at Brook House were moved to another immigration removal centre as a result.
We have robust contingency measures are in place across the immigration removal estate. Measures such as protective shielding are considered on a case-by-case basis and further measures, including enhanced hygiene, 'reverse cohorting' and single occupancy rooms have been introduced to minimise the risk of COVID-19 spreading in the immigration removal estate. This has been supported by the High Court, which last year ruled that our approach to detention and COVID-19 was sensible, with the appropriate precautionary measures in place.
To supplement the preventative measures already in place, on 26 October 2020 the Home Office introduced a voluntary programme of COVID-19 testing on induction for all individuals arriving at an IRC. This testing programme began with the Heathrow and Gatwick IRCs and now includes those arriving at Yarl's Wood. Accordingly, all individuals that were detained at Brook House had been offered a COVID-19 test.
The UK Government already makes a range of generous provision for musicians and other cultural performers to help support the vibrant cultural life of our Union.
Musicians visiting the UK may perform at events, make personal appearances, take part in competitions, promotional activities and auditions, for up to 6 months without the need for formal sponsorship or, for non-visa nationals, without a visa if they are not being paid beyond expenses or prize money. They can also receive payment for appearances at permit free festivals for up to 6 months, or for up to one month for a specific engagements, under the Visitor route.
Musicians and support staff who are being paid in the UK may also qualify for entry under the Tier 5 Creative Worker route, if they are sponsored by a UK entity licensed with UK Visas and Immigration for this purpose. Entry is for up to 12 months and the relevant rules also provide for accompanying dependants.
Entry under the Tier 5 Creative Worker route is visa-free for non-visa nationals, which includes EU Nationals, where entry is for no more than three months.
We set our provisions based on the assessment of the needs of our United Kingdom’s cultural sector, rather than tying them to decisions made by foreign jurisdictions and Governments. As I recently outlined to Members of the Scottish Parliament’s Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee, we are specifically reviewing the provisions on Permit Free Festivals and Permitted Paid Engagement for other cultural events in response to the points raised by those in the sector, particularly the Edinburgh International Festival.
We remain committed to removing foreign national offenders or those who violate our immigration rules and we have shown that we can continue to do this safely.
Immigration Enforcement are following the latest guidance from Public Health England. On all removal flights public health guidance is adhered to, those on flights are seen by a healthcare professional before they are returned and anyone who is exhibiting symptoms would be removed from the flight and placed into medical isolation.
The safety and health of people in the detention estate is of the utmost importance. The Home Office has robust contingency plans in place and continues to follow national guidance issued by Public Health England (PHE), Health Protection Scotland and the National Health Service (NHS).
All immigration removal centres (IRCs) have communicable disease contingency plans, based on PHE advice, and dedicated health facilities run by doctors and nurses which are managed by the NHS or appropriate providers. Detained individuals arriving at IRCs are medically assessed by a nurse within two hours of their arrival, are offered an appointment with a doctor within 24 hours and have access to medical assistance throughout their detention. In addition, we are in the process of rolling out COVID 19 testing on reception in all IRCs.
Everyone entering an IRC spends a minimum of 14 days on a ‘reverse cohorting’ unit; this is dedicated accommodation designed to prevent an asymptomatic individual transmitting the virus to the wider centre population. Reverse cohorting is supported by further measures such as single occupancy rooms in all IRCs and the cessation of social visits. Protective shielding is available to those who are deemed medically high or very high risk. In addition, all staff and visitors to IRCs and short term holding facilities are required to wear a face mask, at all times, when undertaking direct contact duties with those detained and when in the main centre or holding facility.
The Home Office published statistics relating to COVID-19 and the immigration system on Gov.uk on 28 May, and the latest Immigration Statistics publication includes the numbers of individuals detained under immigration powers in prisons. Further information about the operational response to COVID-19 in immigration detention is available on Gov.uk and has been updated throughout the outbreak. This has been supplemented by the publication of guidance associated with COVID-19 and immigration detention on 30 November. We have no current plans to publish further data on COVID-19.
The safety and health of people in the detention estate is of the utmost importance. The Home Office has robust contingency plans in place and continues to follow national guidance issued by Public Health England (PHE), Health Protection Scotland and the National Health Service (NHS).
All immigration removal centres (IRCs) have communicable disease contingency plans, based on PHE advice, and dedicated health facilities run by doctors and nurses which are managed by the NHS or appropriate providers. Detained individuals arriving at IRCs are medically assessed by a nurse within two hours of their arrival, are offered an appointment with a doctor within 24 hours and have access to medical assistance throughout their detention. In addition, we are in the process of rolling out COVID 19 testing on reception in all IRCs.
Everyone entering an IRC spends a minimum of 14 days on a ‘reverse cohorting’ unit; this is dedicated accommodation designed to prevent an asymptomatic individual transmitting the virus to the wider centre population. Reverse cohorting is supported by further measures such as single occupancy rooms in all IRCs and the cessation of social visits. Protective shielding is available to those who are deemed medically high or very high risk. In addition, all staff and visitors to IRCs and short term holding facilities are required to wear a face mask, at all times, when undertaking direct contact duties with those detained and when in the main centre or holding facility.
The Home Office published statistics relating to COVID-19 and the immigration system on Gov.uk on 28 May, and the latest Immigration Statistics publication includes the numbers of individuals detained under immigration powers in prisons. Further information about the operational response to COVID-19 in immigration detention is available on Gov.uk and has been updated throughout the outbreak. This has been supplemented by the publication of guidance associated with COVID-19 and immigration detention on 30 November. We have no current plans to publish further data on COVID-19.
Border Force has the resources in place to meet anticipated overall operational requirements. Border Force recruited over 1,000 additional officers in preparation for the end of transition and continues to ensure maximum flexibility in their recruitment and deployment approach. Further staff will be in place in time for July 2021 when full customs import controls are implemented on movements of goods from the EU to Great Britain.
The Home Office worked closely with operational partners to ensure they were appropriately funded for the end of the Transition Period. As a result, operational partners were appropriately staffed and resourced to implement the new law enforcement and criminal justice arrangements within the UK-EU Trade Co-operation Agreement. Following the recent Spending Review process, the Home Office continues to work with operational partners to ensure they have appropriate funding into the next financial year.
More widely, as part of the Spending Review process £363m has been provided in 2021/22 primarily to recruit 1,100 Border Force officers to deliver transit customs arrangements and to continue supporting law enforcement cooperation with EU Member States.
The Home Office does not hold the information requested.
The National Crime Agency handles requests made through the European Arrest Warrant as well as those made under the new surrender arrangements.
Statistics on the European Arrest Warrant have been published by the National Crime Agency for each year of its operation. These figures are published at: https://nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/who-we-are/publications
The Home Office worked closely with operational partners to ensure they were appropriately funded for the end of the Transition Period. As a result, operational partners were appropriately staffed and resourced to implement the new law enforcement and criminal justice arrangements within the UK-EU Trade Co-operation Agreement. Following the recent Spending Review process, the Home Office continues to work with operational partners to ensure they have appropriate funding into the next financial year.
More widely, as part of the Spending Review process £363m has been provided in 2021/22 primarily to recruit 1,100 Border Force officers to deliver transit customs arrangements and to continue supporting law enforcement cooperation with EU Member States.
Immigration Enforcement operations including visits, crime reduction and street operations play a critical role in detecting and deterring immigration abuse and reducing the harm caused by illegal immigration, such as modern slavery, people trafficking and smuggling. Immigration Enforcement do not carry out random visits and nor do they stop individuals at random; all operational activity is intelligence-led.
Immigration Enforcement officers are empowered to carry out an in-country examination of a person to establish their immigration status where they reasonably suspect that the person is in breach of immigration law. Where a person shows an adverse reaction to an immigration presence, typically attempting to flee from premises when Immigration Officers arrive, an Immigration Officer may arrest a person if that adverse reaction gives them reasonable grounds to suspect they may be in breach of immigration law. The person, if British, would be de-arrested as soon as their nationality was established. An arrest of a British citizen could also occur following a criminal offence such as the obstruction of an Immigration Officer in the execution of their duty and for assaulting an Immigration Officer.
The Home Office publishes data on entry clearance visa applications in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release
Data on the number of spouse/partnership visa applications are published in table Vis_D01 of the Entry clearance visa detailed datasets https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/managed-migration-datasetswhich include nationality breakdowns. The data does not show whether the application was from a same sex partner as these do not have a separate visa endorsement.
Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relate up to September 2020. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’. https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics?keywords=immigration&content_store_document_type=upcoming_statistics&organisations%5B%5D=home-office&order=relevance
The data from the table mentioned above are outlined below.
Entry clearance visa applications as a partner or spouse
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 Jan to Sep |
Family: Partner1 total all nationalities | 38,590 | 39,749 | 39,503 | 18,577 |
of which: | ||||
Australia | 726 | 848 | 761 | 358 |
Brazil | 500 | 521 | 555 | 206 |
China | 992 | 940 | 982 | 298 |
Pakistan | 7,715 | 7,909 | 7,845 | 3,638 |
Uganda | 124 | 166 | 167 | 51 |
United States | 2,540 | 2,744 | 2,649 | 1,269 |
Family: Partner (for immediate settlement) total all nationalities | 409 | 269 | 218 | 86 |
of which: | ||||
Australia | 40 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Brazil | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
China | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Pakistan | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Uganda | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
United States | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics year ending September 2020 Visa Table Vis_D01 |
Table notes:
‘Family: Partner’ includes partners, spouses, Fiancé(e)s and proposed civil partners
Commercial Partners have no involvement in visa decision-making, which is undertaken by UKVI Decision Makers only, and are unable to influence a visa decision outcome in any way.
Where Commercial Partners provide front end services to UKVI customers, customers also have the option of either uploading their supporting documents prior to their appointment or having these scanned by a commercial partner representative during the appointment.
UK Visas and Immigration also monitor the performance of the Commercial Partners who deliver services on behalf of the Home Office to ensure they comply with contractual service standards on applicant confidentiality, including providing equal treatment to all customers through The Equality Act 2010.
In February 2017 the Supreme Court upheld the lawfulness of the minimum income requirement, which prevents burdens on the taxpayer and promotes integration, ruling it strikes a fair balance between the interests of those wishing to sponsor a partner to settle in the UK and of the community in general. The Court found the minimum income requirement is not a breach of the right to respect for private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and is not discriminatory.
We continue to keep the family Immigration Rules under review, including taking into account recommendations made in the Migration Advisory Committee’s annual report of 15 December 2020, and will make adjustments should these prove necessary. However, our overall assessment is the Rules, including the minimum income requirement, are having the right impact and are helping to ensure public confidence in the immigration system by ensuring family migration is not based on access to the welfare system paid for by taxpayers.
A rapid review of asylum accommodation came out of a series of Cabinet Office COVID-19 taskforce visits to asylum accommodation and a recommendation that the Home Office conduct a ‘deep dive’ on our approach to initial accommodation during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Home Office is reviewing the recommendations of the rapid review and, as previously stated, will seek to publish a summary of the recommendations. We will also hold round tables with stakeholders to discuss the recommendations, actions taken and proposed next steps.
The UK remains committed to meeting our obligations under both the European Convention of Human Rights and the 1951 Refugee Convention.
The Home Secretary has set out the Government’s ambition to overhaul our approach to asylum and illegal migration, delivering a firm but fair system, including bringing forward new legislation next year. All legislation is assessed against compliance with our international obligations including ECHR.
Any consultation that may take place will do so in line with established principles as well as taking into account any other relevant statutory duties.
The Home Office works closely with law enforcement and others at a national level to monitor far right activity and ensure that local law enforcement and providers are joined up and have effective plans to tackle incidents.
Our accommodation providers liaise closely with local police colleagues and asylum seekers are briefed on risks and encouraged to report hate crimes accordingly.
The Home Office keeps security arrangements under review at its accommodation sites.
When incidents occur at these sites, providers report to the Home Office immediately, and then the Home Office works with the providers, putting additional measures in place if required.
In November the UK and France agreed a package of funding to support a range of activity as part of ongoing efforts to address illegal migration. The funding agreed by the Home Secretary and Minister Darmanin will enable an uplift to the number of Gendarmes and Police Nationale deployed daily on French beaches, which will improve capability for monitoring the coastline and surrounding areas and preventing small boats Channel crossings. Due to operational sensitivities, we cannot outline the exact number of personnel deployed.
Like everyone else in the UK, asylum seekers are being asked to abide by the relevant Government guidance and adhere to national and local measures to help fight coronavirus.
Asylum seekers can access coronavirus testing services in the same way as the wider UK population. Our contracted accommodation and advice providers can offer support and signposting to local health and mobile testing services, and to the Government’s official website where orders for home tests can be placed if appropriate.
We remain in continued dialogue with national and local health leads in relation to rapid testing.
We remain committed to tackling illegal migration with France and this is a joint effort. The funding recently agreed for £28.1m supports a range of activity including continued deployment of French reservists from the Gendarmerie and Police Nationale, technical equipment to improve detections of crossings; suitable alternative accommodation for migrants away from the immediate port and beach areas; and border security infrastructure and capabilities at priority ports in France. We are not intending to publish detailed information on the package agreed with the French Government, as it relates to sensitive operational activity.
All interpreters are subject to qualification checks when joining the Home Office interpreter panel and performance is regularly monitored and assessed. Interpreters are also governed by a Code of Conduct that clearly sets out requirements and expectations. Any breaches of standards are rigorously investigated, assessed and appropriate action taken.
A revised version of the Code of Conduct was published in November 2020. We are also in the process of revising our sexual orientation guidance for caseworkers, which will highlight and enhance these requirements.
Immigration is a reserved matter. The new Immigration Rules make provision for the refusal or cancellation of permission to stay in the UK on the basis of rough sleeping. The new rule will apply on a discretionary basis to non-EEA nationals from 1 December 2020 and to newly arriving EEA nationals from 1 January 2021. The provision will be used sparingly and only where individuals refuse to engage with the range of support mechanisms available and are repeatedly engaged in persistent anti-social behaviour.
Tackling rough sleeping is not a primary responsibility for the police unless there is crime or anti-social behaviour perpetrated by a person who is sleeping rough. The police rely upon integrated support to be in place across relevant partner agencies and services to help rough sleepers move off the streets.
The Home Office and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government are working together to encourage local authorities and approved charities to resolve the immigration status of eligible rough sleepers and unlock access to any benefits and entitlements that rough sleepers may be eligible for.
Immigration is a reserved matter. The new Immigration Rules make provision for the refusal or cancellation of permission to stay in the UK on the basis of rough sleeping. The new rule will apply on a discretionary basis to non-EEA nationals from 1 December 2020 and to newly arriving EEA nationals from 1 January 2021. The provision will be used sparingly and only where individuals refuse to engage with the range of support mechanisms available and are repeatedly engaged in persistent anti-social behaviour.
Tackling rough sleeping is not a primary responsibility for the police unless there is crime or anti-social behaviour perpetrated by a person who is sleeping rough. The police rely upon integrated support to be in place across relevant partner agencies and services to help rough sleepers move off the streets.
The Home Office and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government are working together to encourage local authorities and approved charities to resolve the immigration status of eligible rough sleepers and unlock access to any benefits and entitlements that rough sleepers may be eligible for.
The current global pandemic has presented us with significant challenges when it comes to the provision of asylum accommodation. This has included the need to source sufficient accommodation to meet demand.
Following a review of available government property, the Ministry of Defence agreed to temporarily hand over two of their sites in Kent and Pembrokeshire which are now being used to house asylum seekers.
Whilst this is contingency accommodation used on a temporary basis, our primary focus remains to ensure that we maintain sufficient capacity to meet our statutory obligations during these unprecedented times and will continue to examine further opportunities which may be utilised if necessary.
Since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Home Office paused ending support for people who had been granted asylum, or whose claim had been refused. This was to ensure that people were not made homeless and able to follow social distancing.
We said from the outset that this was a temporary measure which would be brought to an end as soon as it was safe to do so.
The Home Office has started cessations of support in a phased way which will reduce demand on the asylum system while prioritising the safety of those within the asylum system.
The process of issuing discontinuation notices is kept under regular review, taking consideration of public health guidance. The issuing of notices was paused on 27 March, but resumed on 15 September for some cases, starting with failed asylum seekers living in tier 1 and 2 areas in England at the time of the decision being prioritised over other cases.This is being kept under continual review, particularly in light of the fact that we are only issuing negative cessation notices where a route back to the home country exists for the individual, amongst other things. An offer of voluntary return is made, in each case, including flights being paid for and a cash sum of X is offered as well.
We have been working closely with National and Local health Colleagues throughout the pandemic to inform our approach and will continue to do so. We remain committed to working closely with the accommodation providers and communicating with local authorities to relieve pressure and capacity as much as possible and ensure that health guidance is being followed.
The Home Secretary has not received any representations from legal professional bodies on the phrase “activist lawyers”.
Since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Home Office paused ending support for people who had been granted asylum, or whose claim had been refused. This was to ensure that people were not made homeless and able to follow social distancing.
We said from the outset that this was a temporary measure which would be brought to an end as soon as it was safe to do so.
The Home Office has started cessations of support in a phased way which will reduce demand on the asylum system while prioritising the safety of those within the asylum system.
The process of issuing discontinuation notices is kept under regular review, taking consideration of public health guidance. The issuing of notices was paused on 27 March, but resumed on 15 September for some cases, starting with failed asylum seekers living in tier 1 and 2 areas in England at the time of the decision being prioritised over other cases.This is being kept under continual review, particularly in light of the fact that we are only issuing negative cessation notices where a route back to the home country exists for the individual, amongst other things. An offer of voluntary return is made, in each case, including flights being paid for and a cash sum of X is offered as well.
We have been working closely with National and Local health Colleagues throughout the pandemic to inform our approach and will continue to do so. We remain committed to working closely with the accommodation providers and communicating with local authorities to relieve pressure and capacity as much as possible and ensure that health guidance is being followed.
The government’s response was published on 03 November 2020.
This can be found at https://committees.parliament.uk/work/184/home-office-preparedness-for-covid19-coronavirus/publications/
The Government rejects the underlying insinuation of this question. Lawyers play an important role in upholding the law and ensuring people have access to justice. They are however, just like politicians, not immune from criticism.
The Home Secretary, Home Office officials and political advisors have not briefed members of the press with either the name of the law firm or lawyer that represent individuals the Home Office is attempting to remove under the Dublin III regulations in the last six months.
The names of law firms and lawyers involved in legal cases are publicly available.
Home Office Ministers have regular meetings as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
Home Office Ministers have regular meetings as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
The Government rejects the underlying insinuation of this question. Lawyers play an important role in upholding the law and ensuring people have access to justice. They are however, just like politicians, not immune from criticism.
Asylum Operations are exploring many options to reduce the number of outstanding asylum claims. Alongside seeking temporary resource from within the Home Office and other government departments, we are also exploring with third-party suppliers to test the viability of whether they can deliver the support required as a temporary, short term measure. Asylum interviews have not been outsourced, and at this stage we are only exploring the potential feasibility.
Third party interviewing officers will complete a bespoke training package, delivered by the qualified asylum operations training team, that has been designed specifically to meet their needs. The course will include training specifically about modern slavery and safeguarding awareness. Third party interviewing officers will not be carrying out the interviews of those who are or claim to be under 18 years.
Anyone who conducts asylum interviews receives thorough training to ensure they are fully equipped for the role. Third party interviewing officers will not be carrying out the interviews of those who are or claim to be under 18 years.
To guarantee governance and accountability, mechanisms are in place for the oversight of third-party interviews, the department has a quality assurance process which assesses the quality of decisions, interviews and the application of Home Office policy.
We are working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Work and Pensions to evaluate and consider the findings of the Pilot, including balancing measures to recruit in the UK Labour Market with any access to overseas labour.
We will publish further details in due course.
The Home Office have been exploring many options to reduce the number of outstanding asylums claims and interviews. As a short-term measure, the department have consulted with Commercial colleagues to explore with third-party suppliers to test the viability of whether they can deliver the support required.
An existing supplier has offered to support the proof of concept to test viability over a short period. Any plans to make more long-term use of the private sector for interviews will be reviewed and subject to a procurement process. A key success factor is to ensure interviews conducted are of a good standard and equal to existing approaches.
To ensure external suppliers are suitably equipped to carry out the role, a bespoke training package has been developed and will be delivered by the department.
To guarantee governance and accountability, mechanisms are in place for the oversight of third-party interviews, the department has a quality assurance process which assesses the quality of decisions, interviews and the application of Home Office policy.
The Home Office have been exploring many options to reduce the number of outstanding asylums claims and interviews. As a short-term measure, the department have consulted with Commercial colleagues to explore with third-party suppliers to test the viability of whether they can deliver the support required.
An existing supplier has offered to support the proof of concept to test viability over a short period. Any plans to make more long-term use of the private sector for interviews will be reviewed and subject to a procurement process. A key success factor is to ensure interviews conducted are of a good standard and equal to existing approaches.
To ensure external suppliers are suitably equipped to carry out the role, a bespoke training package has been developed and will be delivered by the department.
To guarantee governance and accountability, mechanisms are in place for the oversight of third-party interviews, the department has a quality assurance process which assesses the quality of decisions, interviews and the application of Home Office policy.
The Home Office have been exploring many options to reduce the number of outstanding asylums claims and interviews. As a short-term measure, the department have consulted with Commercial colleagues to explore with third-party suppliers to test the viability of whether they can deliver the support required.
An existing supplier has offered to support the proof of concept to test viability over a short period. Any plans to make more long-term use of the private sector for interviews will be reviewed and subject to a procurement process. A key success factor is to ensure interviews conducted are of a good standard and equal to existing approaches.
To ensure external suppliers are suitably equipped to carry out the role, a bespoke training package has been developed and will be delivered by the department.
To guarantee governance and accountability, mechanisms are in place for the oversight of third-party interviews, the department has a quality assurance process which assesses the quality of decisions, interviews and the application of Home Office policy.
The Home Office have been exploring many options to reduce the number of outstanding asylums claims and interviews. As a short-term measure, the department have consulted with Commercial colleagues to explore with third-party suppliers to test the viability of whether they can deliver the support required.
An existing supplier has offered to support the proof of concept to test viability over a short period. Any plans to make more long-term use of the private sector for interviews will be reviewed and subject to a procurement process. A key success factor is to ensure interviews conducted are of a good standard and equal to existing approaches.
To ensure external suppliers are suitably equipped to carry out the role, a bespoke training package has been developed and will be delivered by the department.
To guarantee governance and accountability, mechanisms are in place for the oversight of third-party interviews, the department has a quality assurance process which assesses the quality of decisions, interviews and the application of Home Office policy.
At the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Home Office paused ending support for people who had been granted asylum, or whose claim had been refused. This was to ensure that people were not made homeless and able to follow social distancing. We said from the outset that this was a temporary measure which would be brought to an end as soon as it was safe to do so.
The Home Office has started cessations of support in a phased way which will reduce demand on the asylum system while prioritising the safety of those within the asylum system. This means moving people out of Home Office accommodation and ending subsistence payments from the Home Office.
We have been working closely with National and Local health Colleagues throughout the pandemic to inform our approach and will continue to do so.
We remain committed to working closely with the accommodation providers and communicating with local authorities to relieve pressure and capacity as much as possible and ensure that health guidance is being followed.
Families who were due to be resettled to the UK when resettlement was paused remain eligible to be resettled when resettlement resumes.
We remain unable to undertake resettlement activity at this stage due to the ongoing impact of the pandemic. We are continuing to evaluate how to respond given these restrictions and pressures, but we expect to resume when safe.
We are in regular contact with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and are working with them (and UNHCR) to ensure that those accepted for resettlement to the UK are able to access any additional support they may need.
Families who were due to be resettled to the UK when resettlement was paused remain eligible to be resettled when resettlement resumes.
We remain unable to undertake resettlement activity at this stage due to the ongoing impact of the pandemic. We are continuing to evaluate how to respond given these restrictions and pressures, but we expect to resume when safe.
We are in regular contact with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and are working with them (and UNHCR) to ensure that those accepted for resettlement to the UK are able to access any additional support they may need.
The Home Office has agreed the use of two sites with the Ministry of Defence; Napier Barracks, Kent, and Penally Training Camp, Pembrokeshire. Discussions are ongoing about whether any other sites may meet requirements.
The Home Office has a statutory obligation to provide support and accommodation to destitute asylum seekers.
As a result of Covid-19, movement of service users out of accommodation was temporarily paused. This combined with the continued large numbers of arrivals in small boats from France has put considerable strain on the accommodation system. As part of the emergency response to this, the Home Office has worked with other government departments to identify alternative accommodation for asylum seekers as a temporary measure.
The Ministry of Defence and Home Office entered into discussions from mid-August regarding the possibility of the Ministry of Defence assisting in identifying accommodation options for asylum seekers.
The Ministry of Defence responded with an offer to review their estate with a view to being able to loan suitable and available sites to the Home Office for up to 12 months. The Defence Secretary confirmed that the two sites at Penally and Napier were indeed able to be offered to the HO on 12 September.
Since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Home Office paused ending support for people who had been granted asylum, or whose claim had been refused. This was to ensure that people were not made homeless and able to follow social distancing.
We said from the outset that this was a temporary measure which would be brought to an end as soon as it was safe to do so.
The Home Office has started cessations of support in a phased way which will reduce demand on the asylum system while prioritising the safety of those within the asylum system. This means moving people out of Home Office accommodation and ending subsistence payments from the Home Office.
We have been working closely with National and Local health Colleagues throughout the pandemic to inform our approach and will continue to do so.
We remain committed to working closely with the accommodation providers and communicating with local authorities to relieve pressure and capacity as much as possible and ensure that health guidance is being followed.
Since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Home Office paused ending support for people who had been granted asylum, or whose claim had been refused. This was to ensure that people were not made homeless and able to follow social distancing.
We said from the outset that this was a temporary measure which would be brought to an end as soon as it was safe to do so.
The Home Office has started cessations of support in a phased way which will reduce demand on the asylum system while prioritising the safety of those within the asylum system. This means moving people out of Home Office accommodation and ending subsistence payments from the Home Office.
We have been working closely with National and Local health Colleagues throughout the pandemic to inform our approach and will continue to do so.
We remain committed to working closely with the accommodation providers and communicating with local authorities to relieve pressure and capacity as much as possible and ensure that health guidance is being followed.
We are resuming negative asylum support cessations in England, and soon after in the rest of the United Kingdom following discussion with officials in the Devolved Administrations.
Local authorities have been consulted about cessations and we continue to work closely with councils to plan for these changes. Data has been shared with authorities as part of move-on planning and communication channels are open throughout the move-on period.
We remain committed to working closely with local authorities to relieve pressure and capacity as much as possible, however it is only right that recently granted refugees move into local authority care to assist with their integration. It is also right that those no longer entitled to asylum support leave the United Kingdom.
The Home Office has started cessations of support in a phased way which will reduce demand on the asylum system while prioritising the safety of those within the asylum system. This means moving people out of Home Office accommodation and ending subsistence payments from the Home Office.
For those whose asylum claims have been rejected and appeal rights exhausted, they will be expected to leave the country, assistance is available to those who opt to leave voluntarily. The Voluntary Returns Scheme will pay for travel and provide a cash amount, and this can and should be utilised whenever possible.
People who are awaiting a Covid test result should not be asked to leave their current dwelling until they receive a negative test result and are symptom free and that those self-isolating due to a positive test result should adhere to the full 14-day self-isolation period for close contacts.
These factors, applied to an individual case, might mean that a failed asylum seeker continues to be eligible to receive support because they are unable to leave the UK or take the necessary practical steps to enable them to leave (for example by attending an interview for the purposes of obtaining a necessary travel document).
The standard allowance given to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute was raised to £39.60 per week from £37.75 per week with effect from 15 June, an increase of around 5%. This increase was significantly higher than the general rate of inflation, which Office for National Statistics data shows was only 0.5% in the 12 months period to May.
Further work is being done, as it is every year, to ensure the rate is enough to meet the essential living needs of asylum seekers (the legal test) and we will announce the outcome in due course.
The taxpayer also provides free accommodation, with utilities and council tax paid for and there is free access to the NHS and free access to education for their children.
The UK has a generous record in supporting asylum seekers. Last year, we made around 20,000 grants of asylum or protection (one of the higher figures in Europe), as well as offered protection to 3,000 Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children – the highest number of any country in Europe. In addition, we have directly resettled around 20,000 people from the most dangerous areas of the world (especially Syrians) in the UK over the last 5 years. Finally, we spend around £14 billion per year in Overseas Aid, helping millions of people around the world. This is the highest amount of any country in Europe and we are the only G7 country to meet the 0.7% of GNI Overseas Aid target.
Local authorities receive funding for their costs of providing support to unaccompanied asylum seeking children.
However, they do not receive funding for adult asylum seekers and their dependants; this is because the costs of providing these individuals with any necessary accommodation and other support to cover their essential living needs are met by the Home Office. There are no plans to change these arrangements.
Total asylum spends are published as part of transparency data which can be found using this link https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data
All asylum and human rights claims are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. Each individual assessment is made against the background of the latest available country of origin information and any relevant caselaw.
The Home Office publishes data on returns from the UK in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release
Data on the number of enforced returns, by return destination, are published in table Ret_D02 within the returns detailed datasets. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/returns-and-detention-datasets
Additionally, the Home Office publishes a high-level overview of the data in the Returns summary tables. The ‘contents’ sheet contains an overview of all available data on returns. The latest data relate to June 2020.
Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.] https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics?content_store_document_type=upcoming_statistics&organisations%5B%5D=home-office&order=release-date-oldest
The Home Office is following national guidance in relation to testing, as set by Public Health England.
We do not publish figures in relation to COVID 19. Asylum seekers who have been tested, would appear in the nationally published statistics on testing.
The Home Office is following national guidance in relation to testing, as set by Public Health England.
We do not publish figures in relation to COVID 19. Asylum seekers who have been tested, would appear in the nationally published statistics on testing.
The Home Office is following national guidance in relation to testing, as set by Public Health England.
We do not publish figures in relation to COVID 19. Asylum seekers who have been tested, would appear in the nationally published statistics on testing.
The Home Office is following national guidance in relation to testing, as set by Public Health England.
We do not publish figures in relation to COVID 19. Asylum seekers who have been tested, would appear in the nationally published statistics on testing.
The Home Office is following national guidance in relation to testing, as set by Public Health England.
We do not publish figures in relation to COVID 19. Asylum seekers who have been tested, would appear in the nationally published statistics on testing.
We are committed to improving accommodation and support services experienced by asylum seekers, as evidenced by the evaluation of the provisions in Glasgow during the pandemic and our commitment to act on the findings.
The evaluation is on-going, and publication will be considered once the evaluation has been concluded.
We are working closely with our providers to review security arrangements within all of the hotels currently being used to accommodate asylum seekers. Our accommodation providers liaise closely with local Police colleagues and asylum seekers are briefed as to risks and encouraged to report Hate Crimes accordingly.
We are also working with Home Office and local authority colleagues to develop strategic responses to any further harassment of asylum seekers accommodated in hotels nationally.
We are resuming negative asylum support cessations in England, and soon after in the rest of the United Kingdom following discussion with officials in the Devolved Administrations. Those without an ongoing right to be in the UK should be taking steps to leave the country. All cases that receive a negative cessation will have an available route of return and we offer support through a Voluntary Returns Scheme that will pay for travel and provide a cash amount, and this can and should be utilised whenever possible.
The general advice received was that people who are awaiting a Covid test result should not be asked to leave their current dwelling until they receive a negative test result and are symptom free and that those self-isolating due to a positive test result should adhere to the full 14-day self-isolation period for close contacts.
These factors, applied to an individual case, might mean that a failed asylum seeker continues to be eligible to receive support because they are unable to leave the UK or take the necessary practical steps to enable them to leave (for example by attending an interview for the purposes of obtaining a necessary travel document).
We are resuming negative asylum support cessations in England, and soon after in the rest of the United Kingdom following discussion with officials in the Devolved Administrations. Those without an ongoing right to be in the UK should be taking steps to leave the country. All cases that receive a negative cessation will have an available route of return and we offer support through a Voluntary Returns Scheme that will pay for travel and provide a cash amount, and this can and should be utilised whenever possible.
The general advice received was that people who are awaiting a Covid test result should not be asked to leave their current dwelling until they receive a negative test result and are symptom free and that those self-isolating due to a positive test result should adhere to the full 14-day self-isolation period for close contacts.
These factors, applied to an individual case, might mean that a failed asylum seeker continues to be eligible to receive support because they are unable to leave the UK or take the necessary practical steps to enable them to leave (for example by attending an interview for the purposes of obtaining a necessary travel document).
Asylum seekers who are accommodated in “dispersal” accommodation (generally flats and houses) receive £39.60 per week to cover their other essential living needs. Asylum seekers accommodated in hotels and other full-board facilities do not receive this payment because their essential living needs are provided for in kind, or a mixture of in kind support and some cash.
The detail of the support arrangements for those supported in full-board accommodation are set out in the contracts with the accommodation providers; specifically the “Statement of Requirements”, which can be found at:
The accommodation providers receive payments for providing services consistent with those requirements.
Asylum seekers who are accommodated in “dispersal” accommodation (generally flats and houses) receive £39.60 per week to cover their other essential living needs. Asylum seekers accommodated in hotels and other full-board facilities do not receive this payment because their essential living needs are provided for in kind, or a mixture of in kind support and some cash.
The detail of the support arrangements for those supported in full-board accommodation are set out in the contracts with the accommodation providers; specifically the “Statement of Requirements”, which can be found at:
The accommodation providers receive payments for providing services consistent with those requirements.
Asylum seekers who are accommodated in “dispersal” accommodation (generally flats and houses) receive £39.60 per week to cover their other essential living needs. Asylum seekers accommodated in hotels and other full-board facilities do not receive this payment because their essential living needs are provided for in kind, or a mixture of in kind support and some cash.
The detail of the support arrangements for those supported in full-board accommodation are set out in the contracts with the accommodation providers; specifically the “Statement of Requirements”, which can be found at:
The accommodation providers receive payments for providing services consistent with those requirements.
The number of asylum seekers accommodated in each local authority can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets#asylum-support
This includes the numbers of those accommodated under Section 98, Section 95 and Section 4.
The average length of stay is not available in a reportable format and to provide the information could only be done at disproportionate cost.
It is Home Office policy to move people into suitable Dispersed Accommodation (DA) once their claim for support has been assessed.
The current global pandemic has presented significant challenges when it comes to the provision of asylum accommodation. This has included the need to source sufficient accommodation to meet demand.
A comprehensive cessation plan has been established with input from Local Authorities, Other Government Departments and Stakeholders to reduce the number of people in hotels.
Work to explore further options to accommodate asylum seekers included work with the Ministry of Defence to identify and to utilise MOD sites at short notice.
This accommodation is contingency accommodation, whilst pressures in the system are addressed and will be discontinued as soon as the Home Office is able to do so.
Our accommodation providers are working to maximise their procurement plans throughout the UK, but they can only do so with Local Authority agreement. It is our intention to move all individuals in contingency accommodation into suitable DA as soon as reasonably practical.
It is Home Office policy to move people into suitable Dispersed Accommodation (DA) once their claim for support has been assessed.
The current global pandemic has presented significant challenges when it comes to the provision of asylum accommodation. This has included the need to source sufficient accommodation to meet demand.
Work to explore further options to accommodate asylum seekers included work with the Ministry of Defence to identify and to utilise MOD sites at short notice.
This accommodation is contingency accommodation, whilst pressures in the system are addressed and will be discontinued as soon as the Home Office is able to do so.
A comprehensive cessation plan has been established with input from Local Authorities, Other Government Departments and Stakeholders to reduce the number of people in hotels.
Our accommodation providers are working to maximise their procurement plans throughout the UK, but they can only do so with Local Authority agreement. It is our intention to move all individuals in contingency accommodation into suitable DA as soon as reasonably practical.
We have worked closely with Public Health to ensure asylum accommodation providers are following relevant guidance and are supporting asylum seekers to follow Public Health guidance within the estate.
Providers are applying controls to further support social distancing such as providing translated public health guidance and instruction to service users. Communal dining rooms have staggered meal times and appropriate marking to delineate social distancing. Where service users are isolating, food is placed outside of their rooms.
Laws prohibiting social gatherings of more than six people apart from a set of limited exemptions including work and education apply to everyone. The Home Office are working closely with accommodation providers to ensure that the new health stipulation of “the rule of six” is followed and implemented accordingly. The varying types of accommodation require different approaches, the Home Office are working closely with providers to understand the implementation of those approaches and to assure themselves that Public Health guidance is applied appropriately.
During these unprecedented times the government is working with a range of partners and across departments to secure further accommodation and the MOD has offered use of some of its sites. We have sought Public Health England/Wales advice on how we can make best use of this accommodation, working within the constraints of the configuration, whilst minimising risks from covid-19.
We will follow the model which the MOD has adopted which is to continue to use the dormitories as shared rooms but to limit occupancy ensuring a minimum distance between beds of at least 2 metres. This will be complemented by a range of additional safety measures including increased cleaning of surfaces, availability of hand sanitisers, a track and trace system and extensive communications with residents around covid-19 control measures.
It is not currently possible to undertake resettlement activity due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We are evaluating how to respond given these restrictions and pressures, but we expect to resume refugee resettlement activity when safe and operationally viable to do so.
We continue to closely monitor the situation and remain in regular dialogue with our international and domestic stakeholders.
It is not currently possible to undertake resettlement activity due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We are evaluating how to respond given these restrictions and pressures, but we expect to resume refugee resettlement activity when safe and operationally viable to do so.
We continue to closely monitor the situation and remain in regular dialogue with our international and domestic stakeholders.
The Home Office publishes data relating to those deprived of British Citizenship.
Figures for conducive deprivation orders, which are made under Section 40(2) of the 1981 British Nationality Act, have been published as part of the HM Government Transparency Report: Disruptive and Investigatory Powers. Four reports have been published to date in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2020:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transparency-report-disruptive-powers-2018-to-2019
Section 40(3) of the 1981 British Nationality Act, allows for deprivation of citizenship where fraud, false representation or concealment of material facts have been used to obtain British citizenship. Since February 2020 these figures have been published via the Transparency report on asylum data, which can be found using the link below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-transparency-data-february-2020
Breakdown by nationality, race, ethnicity and religion is not available in a reportable format within cost limits. There will also be instances where a person who has been deprived of British citizenship has not previously declared their race, ethnicity or religion to the Home Office.
The responsibility for inspecting locations under the Seasonal Workers Pilot Scheme (SAWS) sits with UK Visas and Immigration. The Gangmasters Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) accompany UK Visas and Immigration on their inspections to provide them with information, advice and guidance.
Concordia have engaged with 15 suppliers as part of the SAWS, all of whom are licenced by the GLAA. The GLAA’s public register lists the labour providers who are licensed including licence holders based outside the UK. Further information about the register can be found at: https://www.gla.gov.uk/our-impact/who-has-a-glaa-licence/
The GLAA also works with overseas labour providers to ensure licences are granted to those supplying workers to the UK, as required by section 5 of the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004, which sets out the territorial scope and application of the Act.
The responsibility for inspecting locations under the Seasonal Workers Pilot Scheme (SAWS) sits with UK Visas and Immigration. The Gangmasters Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) accompany UK Visas and Immigration on their inspections to provide them with information, advice and guidance.
Concordia have engaged with 15 suppliers as part of the SAWS, all of whom are licenced by the GLAA. The GLAA’s public register lists the labour providers who are licensed including licence holders based outside the UK. Further information about the register can be found at: https://www.gla.gov.uk/our-impact/who-has-a-glaa-licence/
The GLAA also works with overseas labour providers to ensure licences are granted to those supplying workers to the UK, as required by section 5 of the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004, which sets out the territorial scope and application of the Act.
The responsibility for inspecting locations under the Seasonal Workers Pilot Scheme (SAWS) sits with UK Visas and Immigration. The Gangmasters Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) accompany UK Visas and Immigration on their inspections to provide them with information, advice and guidance.
Concordia have engaged with 15 suppliers as part of the SAWS, all of whom are licenced by the GLAA. The GLAA’s public register lists the labour providers who are licensed including licence holders based outside the UK. Further information about the register can be found at: https://www.gla.gov.uk/our-impact/who-has-a-glaa-licence/
The GLAA also works with overseas labour providers to ensure licences are granted to those supplying workers to the UK, as required by section 5 of the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004, which sets out the territorial scope and application of the Act.
With regard to the Honourable Members question about the number of workers in the Seasonal Workers Pilot who have made a request to their pilot operator to change their employer I refer him to the response I gave to his question of 17 July (76041).
The UK operates a national immigration system. We do not break down the distribution of pilot workers within UK by geographic region.
The Home Office does not hold data on the numbers of individual growers that have participated in the pilot. We also do not hold data on the number of pilot workers who left the UK before the end of their visa in a reportable format. This information is recorded and held by the Scheme Operators
All pilot workers are provided with a contract, setting out their terms of employment. This must be provided in their native language. As part of this contract, the scheme operators are required to ensure pilot workers receive at least the national minimum wage for every week of their employment. The mechanism for achieving this, be it guaranteed payment or guaranteed hours of employment, is at the discretion of the scheme operators.
With regard to the Honourable Members question about the number of workers in the Seasonal Workers Pilot who have made a request to their pilot operator to change their employer I refer him to the response I gave to his question of 17 July (76041).
The UK operates a national immigration system. We do not break down the distribution of pilot workers within UK by geographic region.
The Home Office does not hold data on the numbers of individual growers that have participated in the pilot. We also do not hold data on the number of pilot workers who left the UK before the end of their visa in a reportable format. This information is recorded and held by the Scheme Operators
All pilot workers are provided with a contract, setting out their terms of employment. This must be provided in their native language. As part of this contract, the scheme operators are required to ensure pilot workers receive at least the national minimum wage for every week of their employment. The mechanism for achieving this, be it guaranteed payment or guaranteed hours of employment, is at the discretion of the scheme operators.
With regard to the Honourable Members question about the number of workers in the Seasonal Workers Pilot who have made a request to their pilot operator to change their employer I refer him to the response I gave to his question of 17 July (76041).
The UK operates a national immigration system. We do not break down the distribution of pilot workers within UK by geographic region.
The Home Office does not hold data on the numbers of individual growers that have participated in the pilot. We also do not hold data on the number of pilot workers who left the UK before the end of their visa in a reportable format. This information is recorded and held by the Scheme Operators
All pilot workers are provided with a contract, setting out their terms of employment. This must be provided in their native language. As part of this contract, the scheme operators are required to ensure pilot workers receive at least the national minimum wage for every week of their employment. The mechanism for achieving this, be it guaranteed payment or guaranteed hours of employment, is at the discretion of the scheme operators.
With regard to the Honourable Members question about the number of workers in the Seasonal Workers Pilot who have made a request to their pilot operator to change their employer I refer him to the response I gave to his question of 17 July (76041).
The UK operates a national immigration system. We do not break down the distribution of pilot workers within UK by geographic region.
The Home Office does not hold data on the numbers of individual growers that have participated in the pilot. We also do not hold data on the number of pilot workers who left the UK before the end of their visa in a reportable format. This information is recorded and held by the Scheme Operators
All pilot workers are provided with a contract, setting out their terms of employment. This must be provided in their native language. As part of this contract, the scheme operators are required to ensure pilot workers receive at least the national minimum wage for every week of their employment. The mechanism for achieving this, be it guaranteed payment or guaranteed hours of employment, is at the discretion of the scheme operators.
With regard to the Honourable Members question about the number of workers in the Seasonal Workers Pilot who have made a request to their pilot operator to change their employer I refer him to the response I gave to his question of 17 July (76041).
The UK operates a national immigration system. We do not break down the distribution of pilot workers within UK by geographic region.
The Home Office does not hold data on the numbers of individual growers that have participated in the pilot. We also do not hold data on the number of pilot workers who left the UK before the end of their visa in a reportable format. This information is recorded and held by the Scheme Operators
All pilot workers are provided with a contract, setting out their terms of employment. This must be provided in their native language. As part of this contract, the scheme operators are required to ensure pilot workers receive at least the national minimum wage for every week of their employment. The mechanism for achieving this, be it guaranteed payment or guaranteed hours of employment, is at the discretion of the scheme operators.
With regard to the Honourable Members question about the number of workers in the Seasonal Workers Pilot who have made a request to their pilot operator to change their employer I refer him to the response I gave to his question of 17 July (76041).
The UK operates a national immigration system. We do not break down the distribution of pilot workers within UK by geographic region.
The Home Office does not hold data on the numbers of individual growers that have participated in the pilot. We also do not hold data on the number of pilot workers who left the UK before the end of their visa in a reportable format. This information is recorded and held by the Scheme Operators
All pilot workers are provided with a contract, setting out their terms of employment. This must be provided in their native language. As part of this contract, the scheme operators are required to ensure pilot workers receive at least the national minimum wage for every week of their employment. The mechanism for achieving this, be it guaranteed payment or guaranteed hours of employment, is at the discretion of the scheme operators.
Statistical information on the EU Settlement Scheme is published by the Home Office monthly and quarterly. The latest published information on applications received can be found on the Home Office’s ‘EU Settlement Scheme statistics’ web page available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/eu-settlement-scheme-statistics.
The monthly reporting on the EU Settlement Scheme has recently been changed to allow for more timely release of the figures on applications and outcomes, placed on the GOV.UK website.
The quarterly publication will continue to provide more detailed breakdowns, including data on nationality, UK country of residence, age group, and regional and local authority numbers. In future, we also plan to include numbers of non-digital (paper) applications and further analysis of application outcomes, including those applicants for pre-settled status who subsequently apply for full status.
In line with the Code of Practice for Statistics, the Home Office openly invites feedback from users to continue developing the quality, usefulness and presentation of statistics on the EU Settlement Scheme. Feedback is continually sought across our suite of Home Office immigration statistics, alongside regular internal consultation, and external engagement through multiple stakeholder channels.
Two labour providers were selected to run the Seasonal Workers’ Pilot: Pro Force and Concordia.
Concordia deal with a small number of agencies as part of the seasonal pilot scheme and Pro Force do not use other licensed labour provider businesses as they manage the recruitment directly.
The Home Office does not hold this data, only the scheme operators do. Therefore, we are unable to answer the question.
The published statistics on the Seasonal Worker Pilot may be found at the links below. Please note that the data is not broken down by region.
The Home Office publishes data on Tier 5 Seasonal Workers visas in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release
Data on grants of Tier 5 Seasonal Workers visas, by nationality, are published in table Vis_D02 of the entry clearance detailed datasets.
Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates to year ending March 2020. Data for April to June 2020 are due for future publication on 27 August 2020.
Additionally, the Home Office publishes a high-level overview of the data in the entry clearance summary tables. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-year-ending-march-2020/list-of-tables#entry-clearance-visasThe ‘contents’ sheet contains an overview of all available data on entry clearance visas.
Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.
No overseas visits have been undertaken by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority for the purpose of labour licensing activity since 1 September 2018.
Whatever position the previous Government may have taken, this Government has never had plans to pilot a remote area visa scheme. Instead this Government will introduce a points-based immigration system which will benefit all parts of the United Kingdom.
The Home Office has established a range of measures to support those affected by Covid-19. For the purpose of the minimum income requirement, in addition to the range of ways the requirement can already be met through sources of non-employment income:
a temporary loss of annual income due to Covid-19 between 1 March 2020 and 31 July 2020 will generally be disregarded for self-employment income, along with the impact on employment income from the same period for future applications beyond 31 July. Income received via the Coronavirus Self-Employment Income Support Scheme will also be taken into account;
a temporary loss of employment income between 1 March and 31 July 2020 due to Covid-19 will be disregarded, provided the requirement was met for at least six months up to March 2020;
an applicant or sponsor furloughed under the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be deemed as earning 100% of their salary;
evidential flexibility may be applied where an applicant or sponsor experiences difficulty accessing specified evidence due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Guidance for our customers is available on GOV.UK here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/chapter-8-appendix-fm-family-members.
These are unprecedented times and as the UK returns to work, we continue to monitor the situation closely and take these exceptional circumstances into account. We may make further adjustments to requirements where necessary and appropriate to ensure people are not unduly affected by circumstances beyond their control.
An Impact Assessment on the wider impacts of the ending of free movement for EEA and Swiss citizens was laid alongside the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill. It can be found at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/885682/2020-05-18_IA_ImmSSC_Billl_v21_with_Signature.pdf
On 19 March 2020 the Home Office published a literature review of the evidence relating to the elasticity of demand for visas in the UK. This evidence is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-review-of-evidence-relating-to-the-elasticity-of-demand-for-visas-in-the-uk
The impact of the imposition of both visa fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge on EEA and Swiss citizens will be published alongside the Immigration Rules and Fee Regulations in the Autumn.
Prior to the moves into hotels Mears considered individuals’ health records and a meeting took place with each service user.
Based on this, 102 (not 109 as stated in the question) service users were moved to alternative Mears accommodation, rather than hotels. All other service users were moved to hotels, where further health and welfare assessments were carried out, and some service users were subsequently moved to alternative dispersed accommodation.
The temporary suspension of asylum support cessations remains in place whilst the review described to the Strategic Engagement Group on 24 June is underway.
This review is being undertaken in accordance with our Public Sector Equality duties and includes careful discussion and planning with Public Health Agencies, Local Authorities, Other Government Departments and Stakeholders, which included members of the voluntary and community sector, on how support cessations should appropriately recommence
There is constant monitoring of accommodation providers and formal governance in place, including quarterly Strategic Review Management Boards and monthly Contract Management Groups. Throughout COVID-19 officials have spoken daily with the providers and continue to have formal meetings once a week.
The accommodation provided is safe, habitable, fit for purpose and it is required to comply with the Decent Homes Standard in addition to standards outlined in relevant national or local housing legislation.?If it is found that standards are not being met, appropriate action is taken to hold providers to account and resolve concerns.
Anyone receiving asylum support can contact the Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility service, operate