Stuart C McDonald

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 6^th 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.

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:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sacn-rapid-review-vitamin-d-and-acute-respiratory-tract-infections

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:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng187

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:

https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/scientific-advisory-group-for-emergencies-sage-coronavirus-covid-19-response

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.

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

b) Breakdown of exit cost to date, by type

c) Breakdown of exits relating to 2020-21 office closures

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

b) Breakdown of exit cost to date, by type

c) Breakdown of exits relating to 2020-21 office closures

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

b) Breakdown of exit cost to date, by type

c) Breakdown of exits relating to 2020-21 office closures

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.

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:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/workers-and-temporary-workers-guidance-for-sponsors-sponsor-a-seasonal-worker

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.

• Full details of how to report information to the Home Office are available on our website at: www.gov.uk/report-immigration-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 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 6^th 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 6^th 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 (28^th 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:

• Data on those fleeing the Syrian conflict who were resettled under the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme are published in table Asy_D02 of the ‘asylum and resettlement detailed datasets’.
• Data on BN(O) visas granted (to individuals who hold a BN(O) passport and are, or have recently been, resident in Hong Kong, and their dependants) are published in the chapter ‘How many people come to the UK each year (including visitors)?’.
• Data on refugee family reunion visas granted are published in table Fam_D01 of the ‘asylum and resettlement detailed datasets’.

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:

• Enter, or attempt to enter, the UK illegally (including people entering clandestinely and by means of deception on entry)
• Are subject to deportation action; for example, due to a serious criminal conviction
• Overstay their period of legal right to remain in the UK
• Breach their conditions of leave
• Have been refused asylum

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:

• Enter, or attempt to enter, the UK illegally (including people entering clandestinely and by means of deception on entry)
• Are subject to deportation action; for example, due to a serious criminal conviction
• Overstay their period of legal right to remain in the UK
• Breach their conditions of leave
• Have been refused asylum

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:

List of tables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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:

• 281 have been in the process for 12-18 months;
• 214 have been in the process for over 18 months;
• 5 have been in the process for over 24 months.

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:

• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-work-checkscode-of-practice-on-avoiding-discrimination
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-rent-landlords-code-of-practice

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 31^st 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:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-year-ending-december-2020/list-of-tables#asylum-and-resettlement

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.