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Written Question
Homes for Ukraine Scheme: Visas
Thursday 23rd March 2023

Asked by: Yvette Cooper (Labour - Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many visa applications under the Homes for Ukraine scheme have currently been outstanding for more than (a) one month, (b) three months and (c) six months.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

UKVI aims to assess all Ukraine Schemes visa applications as quickly as possible and straightforward applications are processed within a matter of days. It is right, however, that visas are only issued after all necessary checks have been completed which may take longer on some cases.

UKVI have issued thousands of visas under the Ukraine Family Scheme and the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. The latest published figures can be found here:

Ukraine Family Scheme, Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) and Ukraine Extension Scheme visa data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).


Written Question
Homes for Ukraine Scheme: Visas
Thursday 23rd March 2023

Asked by: Yvette Cooper (Labour - Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average processing time for a Homes for Ukraine Scheme visa was in the latest period for which data is available.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

UKVI aims to assess all Ukraine Schemes visa applications as quickly as possible and straightforward applications are processed within a matter of days. It is right, however, that visas are only issued after all necessary checks have been completed which may take longer on some cases.

UKVI have issued thousands of visas under the Ukraine Family Scheme and the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. The latest published figures can be found here:

Ukraine Family Scheme, Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) and Ukraine Extension Scheme visa data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).


Written Question
National Crime Agency: Immigration
Wednesday 15th February 2023

Asked by: Yvette Cooper (Labour - Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Statement by the Prime on Illegal Immigration of 13tDecember 202, Official Report column 885, what the total budget of the National Crime Agency for organised immigration crime was in (a) November 2022 and (b) January 2023.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

The NCA’s budget for the 2022-23 financial year is £800 million. The NCA prioritises resources to target offenders operating across a range of serious and organised crime threats, including Organised Immigration Crime.


Written Question
Asylum: Albania
Thursday 9th February 2023

Asked by: Yvette Cooper (Labour - Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many returns there have been since 13 December 2022 arising from unsuccessful asylum claims made by Albanian nationals.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

The Home Office publishes data on asylum and returns from the UK in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the outcomes of asylum applications at initial decision by nationality are published in table Asy_D02 of the asylum and resettlement detailed datasets. Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates to Q3 2022.

Outcomes of asylum applications at initial decision data up to the end of December 2022 will be published on 23 February 2023.

The latest data on the top 10 nationalities for asylum-related returns (including Albanians) are available in table Ret_04 of the ‘Returns summary tables’. The latest data relate to the year ending June 2022.

Returns data up to the end of December 2022 will be published on 25 May 2023.


Written Question
Asylum: Albania
Thursday 9th February 2023

Asked by: Yvette Cooper (Labour - Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum claims by Albanian nationals have been decided since 13 December 2022.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

The Home Office publishes data on asylum and returns from the UK in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the outcomes of asylum applications at initial decision by nationality are published in table Asy_D02 of the asylum and resettlement detailed datasets. Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates to Q3 2022.

Outcomes of asylum applications at initial decision data up to the end of December 2022 will be published on 23 February 2023.

The latest data on the top 10 nationalities for asylum-related returns (including Albanians) are available in table Ret_04 of the ‘Returns summary tables’. The latest data relate to the year ending June 2022.

Returns data up to the end of December 2022 will be published on 25 May 2023.


Written Question
Human Trafficking: English Channel
Thursday 26th January 2023

Asked by: Yvette Cooper (Labour - Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the number of organised crime groups active in facilitating people smuggling across the English Channel.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

The Government is resolute in its commitment to tackle Organised Immigration Crime (OIC).

Tackling people smuggling of all types is a priority for Immigration Enforcement, working through its international network upstream as well as conducting OIC investigations within the UK. Additionally, the dedicated multi-agency OIC Taskforce, led by the National Crime Agency, is committed to dismantling OCGs engaged in immigration crime internationally. The Taskforce is active in 17 countries worldwide, and its activities include supporting judicial and intelligence capacity building in source and transit countries, and intelligence sharing in key near Europe countries. The NCA undertakes investigations into complex and serious OIC offences, arresting offenders in the UK and overseas and bringing them to justice.

In addition to the Taskforce, the NCA has a network in excess of 140 International Liaison Officers (ILOs) based in more than 45 locations, covering over 100 countries. For operational security reasons, the NCA does not disclose those countries in which NCA Liaison Officers are based. The NCA also has intelligence and investigative teams that are deployed across the full range of Serious and Organised Crime threats, where tackling Organised Immigration Crime is a priority.

The NCA overseas liaison officers network works with international partners and coordinates UK law enforcement overseas to gather intelligence, conduct operational activity (through agreement with partners) and enhance international delivery through a variety of means, including capacity building, training, joint European or international taskforces. The Liaison Officer network also includes officers based in the multilateral institutions of Europol and INTERPOL.

The tragedy in the Channel last December sadly demonstrates the extent to which OCGs endanger migrants’ lives at sea. The NCA, Home Office, Ministry of Defence and UK police forces continue to collaborate with French counterparts to tackle the criminals behind the majority of these crossing attempts and protect lives at sea. Our joint efforts are resulting in continued arrests and prosecutions of these criminals, so that we deter, disrupt and dismantle the networks responsible for facilitating many of these crossings.

Joint Investigation Teams are another part of our toolkit to address cross border organised crime. JITs provide a legal framework for investigation teams set up for a fixed period between two or more countries to investigate a specific cross-border case. The UK participates in multiple JITs with an Organised Immigration Crime (OIC) dimension; however, for operational reasons we cannot provide further detail.

We also share information about criminality around small boats between international agencies. The UK-France Joint Intelligence Cell (known to France as the Unité de renseignement opérationnel, so URO or JIC) consists of UK and French officials, as well as a Europol embed, who collate and analyse operational intelligence to prevent crossings and to dismantle the gangs behind them. Since the JIC was established in July 2020, 59 organised criminal groups involved in small boats crossings in France have been dismantled. Our joint activity with the French saw nearly 400 arrests made in 2022 alone.

We also pursue those involved in the financial flows that support this activity. Using criminal powers in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, an individual can be prosecuted for money laundering offences if sufficient evidence is obtainable and CPS agree to charging, or civil powers within the same act permit the action to be taken against the money concerned. Both these approaches are used to undermine the financial flows supporting small boat and wider clandestine smuggling, both in the UK and with foreign partners.


Written Question
National Crime Agency: Staff
Thursday 26th January 2023

Asked by: Yvette Cooper (Labour - Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many National Crime Agency staff are posted to (a) Belgium (b) Germany and (c) Netherlands.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

The Government is resolute in its commitment to tackle Organised Immigration Crime (OIC).

Tackling people smuggling of all types is a priority for Immigration Enforcement, working through its international network upstream as well as conducting OIC investigations within the UK. Additionally, the dedicated multi-agency OIC Taskforce, led by the National Crime Agency, is committed to dismantling OCGs engaged in immigration crime internationally. The Taskforce is active in 17 countries worldwide, and its activities include supporting judicial and intelligence capacity building in source and transit countries, and intelligence sharing in key near Europe countries. The NCA undertakes investigations into complex and serious OIC offences, arresting offenders in the UK and overseas and bringing them to justice.

In addition to the Taskforce, the NCA has a network in excess of 140 International Liaison Officers (ILOs) based in more than 45 locations, covering over 100 countries. For operational security reasons, the NCA does not disclose those countries in which NCA Liaison Officers are based. The NCA also has intelligence and investigative teams that are deployed across the full range of Serious and Organised Crime threats, where tackling Organised Immigration Crime is a priority.

The NCA overseas liaison officers network works with international partners and coordinates UK law enforcement overseas to gather intelligence, conduct operational activity (through agreement with partners) and enhance international delivery through a variety of means, including capacity building, training, joint European or international taskforces. The Liaison Officer network also includes officers based in the multilateral institutions of Europol and INTERPOL.

The tragedy in the Channel last December sadly demonstrates the extent to which OCGs endanger migrants’ lives at sea. The NCA, Home Office, Ministry of Defence and UK police forces continue to collaborate with French counterparts to tackle the criminals behind the majority of these crossing attempts and protect lives at sea. Our joint efforts are resulting in continued arrests and prosecutions of these criminals, so that we deter, disrupt and dismantle the networks responsible for facilitating many of these crossings.

Joint Investigation Teams are another part of our toolkit to address cross border organised crime. JITs provide a legal framework for investigation teams set up for a fixed period between two or more countries to investigate a specific cross-border case. The UK participates in multiple JITs with an Organised Immigration Crime (OIC) dimension; however, for operational reasons we cannot provide further detail.

We also share information about criminality around small boats between international agencies. The UK-France Joint Intelligence Cell (known to France as the Unité de renseignement opérationnel, so URO or JIC) consists of UK and French officials, as well as a Europol embed, who collate and analyse operational intelligence to prevent crossings and to dismantle the gangs behind them. Since the JIC was established in July 2020, 59 organised criminal groups involved in small boats crossings in France have been dismantled. Our joint activity with the French saw nearly 400 arrests made in 2022 alone.

We also pursue those involved in the financial flows that support this activity. Using criminal powers in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, an individual can be prosecuted for money laundering offences if sufficient evidence is obtainable and CPS agree to charging, or civil powers within the same act permit the action to be taken against the money concerned. Both these approaches are used to undermine the financial flows supporting small boat and wider clandestine smuggling, both in the UK and with foreign partners.


Written Question
Human Trafficking: English Channel
Thursday 26th January 2023

Asked by: Yvette Cooper (Labour - Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many National Crime Agency staff are currently in roles tasked primarily with the disruption of (a) organised immigration crime and (b) people smuggling across the English Channel.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

The Government is resolute in its commitment to tackle Organised Immigration Crime (OIC).

Tackling people smuggling of all types is a priority for Immigration Enforcement, working through its international network upstream as well as conducting OIC investigations within the UK. Additionally, the dedicated multi-agency OIC Taskforce, led by the National Crime Agency, is committed to dismantling OCGs engaged in immigration crime internationally. The Taskforce is active in 17 countries worldwide, and its activities include supporting judicial and intelligence capacity building in source and transit countries, and intelligence sharing in key near Europe countries. The NCA undertakes investigations into complex and serious OIC offences, arresting offenders in the UK and overseas and bringing them to justice.

In addition to the Taskforce, the NCA has a network in excess of 140 International Liaison Officers (ILOs) based in more than 45 locations, covering over 100 countries. For operational security reasons, the NCA does not disclose those countries in which NCA Liaison Officers are based. The NCA also has intelligence and investigative teams that are deployed across the full range of Serious and Organised Crime threats, where tackling Organised Immigration Crime is a priority.

The NCA overseas liaison officers network works with international partners and coordinates UK law enforcement overseas to gather intelligence, conduct operational activity (through agreement with partners) and enhance international delivery through a variety of means, including capacity building, training, joint European or international taskforces. The Liaison Officer network also includes officers based in the multilateral institutions of Europol and INTERPOL.

The tragedy in the Channel last December sadly demonstrates the extent to which OCGs endanger migrants’ lives at sea. The NCA, Home Office, Ministry of Defence and UK police forces continue to collaborate with French counterparts to tackle the criminals behind the majority of these crossing attempts and protect lives at sea. Our joint efforts are resulting in continued arrests and prosecutions of these criminals, so that we deter, disrupt and dismantle the networks responsible for facilitating many of these crossings.

Joint Investigation Teams are another part of our toolkit to address cross border organised crime. JITs provide a legal framework for investigation teams set up for a fixed period between two or more countries to investigate a specific cross-border case. The UK participates in multiple JITs with an Organised Immigration Crime (OIC) dimension; however, for operational reasons we cannot provide further detail.

We also share information about criminality around small boats between international agencies. The UK-France Joint Intelligence Cell (known to France as the Unité de renseignement opérationnel, so URO or JIC) consists of UK and French officials, as well as a Europol embed, who collate and analyse operational intelligence to prevent crossings and to dismantle the gangs behind them. Since the JIC was established in July 2020, 59 organised criminal groups involved in small boats crossings in France have been dismantled. Our joint activity with the French saw nearly 400 arrests made in 2022 alone.

We also pursue those involved in the financial flows that support this activity. Using criminal powers in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, an individual can be prosecuted for money laundering offences if sufficient evidence is obtainable and CPS agree to charging, or civil powers within the same act permit the action to be taken against the money concerned. Both these approaches are used to undermine the financial flows supporting small boat and wider clandestine smuggling, both in the UK and with foreign partners.


Written Question
Human Trafficking: Criminal Investigation
Thursday 26th January 2023

Asked by: Yvette Cooper (Labour - Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many joint investigations have been opened into people smuggling by organised crime groups in (a) the past 12 months and (b) each of the past five years.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

The Government is resolute in its commitment to tackle Organised Immigration Crime (OIC).

Tackling people smuggling of all types is a priority for Immigration Enforcement, working through its international network upstream as well as conducting OIC investigations within the UK. Additionally, the dedicated multi-agency OIC Taskforce, led by the National Crime Agency, is committed to dismantling OCGs engaged in immigration crime internationally. The Taskforce is active in 17 countries worldwide, and its activities include supporting judicial and intelligence capacity building in source and transit countries, and intelligence sharing in key near Europe countries. The NCA undertakes investigations into complex and serious OIC offences, arresting offenders in the UK and overseas and bringing them to justice.

In addition to the Taskforce, the NCA has a network in excess of 140 International Liaison Officers (ILOs) based in more than 45 locations, covering over 100 countries. For operational security reasons, the NCA does not disclose those countries in which NCA Liaison Officers are based. The NCA also has intelligence and investigative teams that are deployed across the full range of Serious and Organised Crime threats, where tackling Organised Immigration Crime is a priority.

The NCA overseas liaison officers network works with international partners and coordinates UK law enforcement overseas to gather intelligence, conduct operational activity (through agreement with partners) and enhance international delivery through a variety of means, including capacity building, training, joint European or international taskforces. The Liaison Officer network also includes officers based in the multilateral institutions of Europol and INTERPOL.

The tragedy in the Channel last December sadly demonstrates the extent to which OCGs endanger migrants’ lives at sea. The NCA, Home Office, Ministry of Defence and UK police forces continue to collaborate with French counterparts to tackle the criminals behind the majority of these crossing attempts and protect lives at sea. Our joint efforts are resulting in continued arrests and prosecutions of these criminals, so that we deter, disrupt and dismantle the networks responsible for facilitating many of these crossings.

Joint Investigation Teams are another part of our toolkit to address cross border organised crime. JITs provide a legal framework for investigation teams set up for a fixed period between two or more countries to investigate a specific cross-border case. The UK participates in multiple JITs with an Organised Immigration Crime (OIC) dimension; however, for operational reasons we cannot provide further detail.

We also share information about criminality around small boats between international agencies. The UK-France Joint Intelligence Cell (known to France as the Unité de renseignement opérationnel, so URO or JIC) consists of UK and French officials, as well as a Europol embed, who collate and analyse operational intelligence to prevent crossings and to dismantle the gangs behind them. Since the JIC was established in July 2020, 59 organised criminal groups involved in small boats crossings in France have been dismantled. Our joint activity with the French saw nearly 400 arrests made in 2022 alone.

We also pursue those involved in the financial flows that support this activity. Using criminal powers in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, an individual can be prosecuted for money laundering offences if sufficient evidence is obtainable and CPS agree to charging, or civil powers within the same act permit the action to be taken against the money concerned. Both these approaches are used to undermine the financial flows supporting small boat and wider clandestine smuggling, both in the UK and with foreign partners.


Written Question
Human Trafficking: English Channel
Thursday 26th January 2023

Asked by: Yvette Cooper (Labour - Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Joint Investigation Teams are currently in place to investigate people smuggling across the Channel by organised crime groups.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

The Government is resolute in its commitment to tackle Organised Immigration Crime (OIC).

Tackling people smuggling of all types is a priority for Immigration Enforcement, working through its international network upstream as well as conducting OIC investigations within the UK. Additionally, the dedicated multi-agency OIC Taskforce, led by the National Crime Agency, is committed to dismantling OCGs engaged in immigration crime internationally. The Taskforce is active in 17 countries worldwide, and its activities include supporting judicial and intelligence capacity building in source and transit countries, and intelligence sharing in key near Europe countries. The NCA undertakes investigations into complex and serious OIC offences, arresting offenders in the UK and overseas and bringing them to justice.

In addition to the Taskforce, the NCA has a network in excess of 140 International Liaison Officers (ILOs) based in more than 45 locations, covering over 100 countries. For operational security reasons, the NCA does not disclose those countries in which NCA Liaison Officers are based. The NCA also has intelligence and investigative teams that are deployed across the full range of Serious and Organised Crime threats, where tackling Organised Immigration Crime is a priority.

The NCA overseas liaison officers network works with international partners and coordinates UK law enforcement overseas to gather intelligence, conduct operational activity (through agreement with partners) and enhance international delivery through a variety of means, including capacity building, training, joint European or international taskforces. The Liaison Officer network also includes officers based in the multilateral institutions of Europol and INTERPOL.

The tragedy in the Channel last December sadly demonstrates the extent to which OCGs endanger migrants’ lives at sea. The NCA, Home Office, Ministry of Defence and UK police forces continue to collaborate with French counterparts to tackle the criminals behind the majority of these crossing attempts and protect lives at sea. Our joint efforts are resulting in continued arrests and prosecutions of these criminals, so that we deter, disrupt and dismantle the networks responsible for facilitating many of these crossings.

Joint Investigation Teams are another part of our toolkit to address cross border organised crime. JITs provide a legal framework for investigation teams set up for a fixed period between two or more countries to investigate a specific cross-border case. The UK participates in multiple JITs with an Organised Immigration Crime (OIC) dimension; however, for operational reasons we cannot provide further detail.

We also share information about criminality around small boats between international agencies. The UK-France Joint Intelligence Cell (known to France as the Unité de renseignement opérationnel, so URO or JIC) consists of UK and French officials, as well as a Europol embed, who collate and analyse operational intelligence to prevent crossings and to dismantle the gangs behind them. Since the JIC was established in July 2020, 59 organised criminal groups involved in small boats crossings in France have been dismantled. Our joint activity with the French saw nearly 400 arrests made in 2022 alone.

We also pursue those involved in the financial flows that support this activity. Using criminal powers in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, an individual can be prosecuted for money laundering offences if sufficient evidence is obtainable and CPS agree to charging, or civil powers within the same act permit the action to be taken against the money concerned. Both these approaches are used to undermine the financial flows supporting small boat and wider clandestine smuggling, both in the UK and with foreign partners.