Asked by: Wayne David (Labour - Caerphilly)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what written assurances her Department has given to international NGOs operating in Gaza that the proscription of Hamas as a terrorist organisation will not adversely affect their work.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
Hamas’ proscription was extended to cover the organisation in its entirety in November 2021. The US, Canada and the EU also designate the group in its entirety as a terrorist organisation.
The Government is confident that the UK’s counter-terrorism framework, including the proscription power, does not prevent organisations from operating overseas. This includes international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) delivering legitimate humanitarian aid.
In October 2021, the Government published an updated Information Note, primarily for INGOs, on operating within counter-terrorism legislation, sanctions, and export controls. Ministers of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office have also met with INGOs to discuss Hamas’ extended proscription.
Asked by: Wayne David (Labour - Caerphilly)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions the Government has had with the family of Asia Bibi on granting them asylum following her release from prison in Pakistan.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
As the Prime Minister set out on 14 November, the release of Asia Bibi will be very welcome news to her family and to all those who have campaigned in Pakistan and around the world for her release. We welcome the assurances the Government of Pakistan has given on keeping her and her family safe and it is important that all countries seek to uphold the rule of law and afford security and protection for the rights of all citizens irrespective of faith or belief.
It is a longstanding Government policy not to comment on individual cases. In accordance with our duty of confidentiality, we cannot confirm whether an asylum claim has been received or the outcome of such a request. Departing from this policy may put individuals and their family members in danger.
Asked by: Wayne David (Labour - Caerphilly)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many road traffic police officers there were in each year between 2004 and 2014.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The Home Office collects and publishes data annually on the primary function of police officers, as part of the ‘Police workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletins. These can be accessed here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-wales
Asked by: Wayne David (Labour - Caerphilly)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what insurance cover her Department and police forces make available for special constables who are injured on duty and require long-term compensation for loss of earnings.
Answered by Mike Penning
In order to ensure that special constables have legal protection, the Home Office provides legal assistance cover currently through Arc Legal Assistance. This is available to all special constables, free of charge, and includes personal injury cover including financial compensation for damages. It also includes cover for legal advice as well as representation at criminal proceedings.
The Government recognise the importance of police welfare. In October 2014 we allocated £10 million to help support emergency services personnel and volunteers, focused on mental health, physical recuperation and bereavement support for those who need it.
Asked by: Wayne David (Labour - Caerphilly)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support is provided to special constables injured on duty to support recovery from such injuries.
Answered by Mike Penning
In order to ensure that special constables have legal protection, the Home Office provides legal assistance cover currently through Arc Legal Assistance. This is available to all special constables, free of charge, and includes personal injury cover including financial compensation for damages. It also includes cover for legal advice as well as representation at criminal proceedings.
In October 2014 we also allocated £10 million to help support emergency services personnel and volunteers, including special constables. This funding is focused on mental health, physical recuperation and bereavement support for those who need it.
Asked by: Wayne David (Labour - Caerphilly)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what advice her Department provides to special constables seeking to claim for loss of earnings due to injuries sustained while on duty.
Answered by Mike Penning
In order to ensure that special constables have legal protection, the Home Office provides legal assistance cover currently through Arc Legal Assistance. This is available to all special constables, free of charge, and includes personal injury cover including financial compensation for damages. It also includes cover for legal advice as well as representation at criminal proceedings.
In October 2014 we also allocated £10 million to help support emergency services personnel and volunteers, including special constables. This funding is focused on mental health, physical recuperation and bereavement support for those who need it.
Asked by: Wayne David (Labour - Caerphilly)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what security checks her Department carries out on refugees from Syria who are admitted to the UK.
Answered by John Hayes
The Syrian nationals admitted to the UK under the UNHCR Resettlement Programme are some of the most vulnerable displaced people and they are taken directly from the region.
We take security extremely seriously in cases referred to us for resettlement, working closely with the UNHCR who have their own robust identification processes in place. When refugees arrive in the UK they have been through a thorough two-stage vetting process to ensure we know who is entering the country. This includes the taking of biometric data, documentation verification and interviews. Potential resettlement cases are screened and considered by the Home Office for suitability for entry to the UK: we retain the right to reject individuals on security, war crimes or other grounds. For reasons of national security, we cannot provide further information on the details of the screening process itself.
Asked by: Wayne David (Labour - Caerphilly)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department carries out of the needs of Syrian refugees who are admitted to the UK to ensure they receive the support they need.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
The UNHCR identifies refugees for potential resettlement under the Syrian VPR scheme using their vulnerability criteria. Once our security processes have been completed, a full medical assessment is conducted by the International Organisation for Migration in the host country. Local Authorities are provided with case details of all referrals so they can consider whether they have the infrastructure and support networks needed to ensure appropriate care and integration of refugees.
Asked by: Wayne David (Labour - Caerphilly)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of its Border Security Assessment being conducted at the level of individual countries rather than on a uniform basis.
Answered by Mike Penning
The Home Office keeps its visa regimes under regular review. Regimes are assessed on a country by country basis. The Home Office takes various factors into account when assessing regimes. These include the immigration, crime and
security risks posed by each country.
Asked by: Wayne David (Labour - Caerphilly)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has considered the possibility of varying the terms and conditions attached to a visitor visa on a country-by-country basis or within different parts of large countries.
Answered by Mike Penning
All individuals who require a visa to visit the UK are subject to the same terms and conditions. No decisions have been made to vary the terms and conditions attached to a visitor’s leave, but we remain open to considering
these as part of our regular policy reviews.