Asked by: Nick Timothy (Conservative - West Suffolk)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) names and (b) addresses are of all test centres used for the Life in the UK Test.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The full list of Life in the UK test centres as of 10 September 2024 is as follows:
Name of test centre | Address | Town/City | Postcode |
PSI @ North East Scotland College | Ground Floor, North East Scotland College, Gallowgate | Aberdeen | AB25 1BN |
People 1st Belfast | Rosemont, 89 Malone Road, | Belfast | BT9 6SP |
PSI Birmingham | Gateway House, 3rd Floor, 50-53 High Street | Birmingham | B4 7SY |
Community Training Portal Blackburn | Suite 15, Kings Court, Kings Street, | Blackburn | BB2 2DH |
MTS@Vantage Point, Brighton | 7th floor, Vantage Point, New England Rd, Brighton | Brighton | BN1 4GW |
Pitman/go train Bristol | Unit 9, Hide Market, Waterloo Road, St Philips | Bristol | BS2 0PL |
MTS Cardiff | 5th Floor, 5-7 Market Chambers, 5-7 St Marys Street | Cardiff | CF10 1AT |
MTS Coventry | 1st floor, 101 Lockhurst Lane | Coventry | CV6 5SF |
PSI Croydon | 8th Floor, Grosvenor House, 125 High Street | Croydon | CR0 9XP |
MTS @ Edinburgh | 40 Sciennes, Newington | Edinburgh | EH9 1NJ |
Episkopi e-LC | Episkopi LC | Episkopi/Cyprus | BFPO 58 |
We Can Train Pitman | Exam rooms Park Five Business Centre, Harrier Way, Sowton Industrial Estate | Exeter | EX2 7HU |
PSI Glasgow | Adelphi Centre, 12 Commercial Road | Glasgow | G5 0PQ |
Iranian Association | 222 King Street, Hammersmith | Hammersmith | W6 0RA |
Computer Learning Centre Hounslow | 65 Kingsley Road | Hounslow | TW3 1QB |
PSI Nairn Inverness | Nairn Community & Arts Centre | Inverness | IV12 4BQ |
PSI at The Hub Business Centre Ipswich | 2nd floor, Room 16a , 2 Civic Drive | Ipswich | IP1 2QA |
PSI Leeds | Part 4th Floor, Oxford House, Oxford Row | Leeds | LS1 3BE |
PSI Leicester | 5th Floor, 60 Charles Street | Leicester | LE1 1FB |
PDA (Training) Ltd Lewisham | 107-109 Lewisham High Street | Lewisham | SE13 6AT |
PSI Liverpool | 1 Union Court, 4th Floor | Liverpool | L2 4SJ |
Community Training Portal Luton | 114-134 Midland Road,Luton, | Luton | LU2 OBL |
Synod Solutions @ Maidstone | 1st floor, 114 Kestrel House, Knight Rider Street, | Maidstone | ME15 6LU |
PSI Manchester | 6th Floor, Boulton House, 17-21 Chorlton Street | Manchester | M1 3HY |
MTS Milton Keynes | Gloucester House, MTS Ground Floor , 399 Silbury Boulevard | Milton Keynes | MK9 2AH |
PSI Newcastle | Arden House, 4th Floor, Regent Centre, Gosforth | Newcastle | NE3 3LU |
PSI Norwich | Room 23-24, Ground Floor, Sackville Place, 44-48 Magdalen Street | Norwich | NR3 1JU |
Community Training Portal Nottingham | 2 Pelham Court, Pelham Road, CTP Ground Floor (Palmer House) | Nottingham | NG5 1AP |
PSI Oxford | Unit 1 (first entrance at the rear of the building), Watlington House, Watlington Road | Oxford | OX4 6NF |
PSI Penrith | Ground floor,Eden Rural Foyer,Old London Rd | Penrith | CA11 8ET |
PSI at Online Exams Peterborough | Sefton House, Adam Court, Newark Road | Peterborough | PE1 5PP |
PSI eAssessment Plymouth | Cobourg House, 3rd Floor, 32, Mayflower Street | Plymouth | PL1 1QX |
Pitman/We can train Portsmouth | Portsmouth Technopole, Kingston Crescent | Portsmouth | P02 8FA |
Preston Academy of English | 38 Ormskirk Road | Preston | PR1 2QP |
PSI Reading | Highline, 6th Floor, 30 Greyfriars Road | Reading | RG1 1PE |
PSI Sheffield | The Synergy Building, Bank Street Entrance, Bank Street, Hartshead | Sheffield | S1 2EL |
PSI Stratford | 2nd Floor, Boardman House, 64 Broadway, Stratford, London | Stratford | E15 1NT |
Computeraid | 4th Floor, 11 Wind Street | Swansea | SA1 1DP |
Community Training Portal Watford | Suite W2 & W3 Victoria House, 45-47 Vicarage Road | Watford | WD18 0DE |
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that the right to British citizenship under the British Nationality Act 1981 is not confused or conflated with the powers and discretion delegated to the Home Secretary to manage the immigration system including naturalisation of adult migrants.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
In line with the duties introduced by the Equality Act 2010, the Home Office undertakes an equality impact assessment whenever decisions are taken on policy relating to registering statutory rights to British citizenship. Most recently, equality impact assessments were undertaken when changes were made to Section 3(1) British Nationality Act 1981 and on the introduction of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022.
There are various provisions within the British Nationality Act 1981 that allow for children born in the UK to register as British citizens. The Home Office has published clear and easy to follow guidance for applications under each of these sections. Home Office caseworkers are trained to carry out their duties to ensure that those who apply and meet the statutory requirements are granted citizenship.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that statutory rights to be registered as a British citizen under the British Nationality Act 1981 are exercised so that all children who are born, and have grown up, in the UK are recognised as citizens.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
In line with the duties introduced by the Equality Act 2010, the Home Office undertakes an equality impact assessment whenever decisions are taken on policy relating to registering statutory rights to British citizenship. Most recently, equality impact assessments were undertaken when changes were made to Section 3(1) British Nationality Act 1981 and on the introduction of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022.
There are various provisions within the British Nationality Act 1981 that allow for children born in the UK to register as British citizens. The Home Office has published clear and easy to follow guidance for applications under each of these sections. Home Office caseworkers are trained to carry out their duties to ensure that those who apply and meet the statutory requirements are granted citizenship.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what, if any, race equality impact assessment has been made of policy and practice relating to registering statutory rights to British citizenship.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
In line with the duties introduced by the Equality Act 2010, the Home Office undertakes an equality impact assessment whenever decisions are taken on policy relating to registering statutory rights to British citizenship. Most recently, equality impact assessments were undertaken when changes were made to Section 3(1) British Nationality Act 1981 and on the introduction of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022.
There are various provisions within the British Nationality Act 1981 that allow for children born in the UK to register as British citizens. The Home Office has published clear and easy to follow guidance for applications under each of these sections. Home Office caseworkers are trained to carry out their duties to ensure that those who apply and meet the statutory requirements are granted citizenship.
Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to amend the Modern Slavery Statutory Guidance, published in May 2024, to ensure that people who (a) have been referred to the National Referral Mechanism and (b) do not have legal representation cannot have support from her Department withdrawn from them.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Government is committed to tackling modern slavery; ensuring that victims are provided with the support they need to begin rebuilding their lives and that those responsible are prosecuted.
The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is the UK’s framework for identifying and referring potential victims of modern slavery which works to ensure that confirmed victims receive support until they no longer have recovery needs, or until these needs are met by other services, including if this takes 12 months, or longer.
The unprecedented increase in the volume of referrals into the NRM has presented significant challenges in resourcing and workflow, and we recognise that wait times are too long. Work has been done to increase capacity for decision making, improve operational effectiveness and testing alternative approaches to decision making, but recognise that more needs to be done and are considering options. I am as keen as you to ensure that this happens.
We keep all policies and processes under review.
The Modern Slavery Statutory Guidance sets out when access to modern slavery support may be withheld and that potential victims in the NRM can choose to have legal representation. It also sets out the current prioritisation approach and priorities can change periodically in line with Ministerial arrangements under the Equality Act 2010. Any changes to the prioritisation criteria will be reflected in this guidance.
Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether future funding for organisations tackling violence against women and girls will (a) support the full running costs of services, (b) make provision for cost of living increases over the funding period and (c) allow for the remuneration of staff.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
To make our streets safe, we must drastically reduce serious violent crimes and violence against women and girls; increase confidence in the police; stop young people falling into crime and make our criminal justice system work for victims.
We have set out our mission to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.
This Government will treat tackling violence against women and girls as a national emergency and will use every tool to target perpetrators and ensure survivors have access to the support they need.
All decisions on funding will be made in due course as part of the Spending Review. The Majority of funding in this space is from MoJ and MHCLG.
Asked by: Jodie Gosling (Labour - Nuneaton)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support primary prevention regarding violence against women and girls.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
This Government will treat tackling violence against women and girls as a national emergency and prevention will be a key element of our approach.
With a mission to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.
Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to extend the move-on period for newly-recognised refugees to a minimum of 56 days.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)
The government is aware of the need for a smooth transition out of asylum accommodation for recognised refugees. The Home Office works closely with MHCLG on ensuring move-on works effectively, so that those granted refugee status can integrate into society and work.
Asked by: Nick Timothy (Conservative - West Suffolk)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many employees of (a) Immigration Enforcement, (b) UK Visas and Immigration, (c) Border Force and (d) HM Passport Office were (i) suspended and (ii) dismissed for gross misconduct in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
(i) Employees Suspended in each of the last 10 years | ||||
Business Area | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 |
Border Force | 17 | NA | NA | 55 |
Immigration Enforcement | 9 | NA | NA | 12 |
Borders and Enforcement | NA | 52 | 60 | NA |
HM Passport Office | 6 | 10 | NA | NA |
Visas & Immigration | 4 | 6 | NA | NA |
VIP except IHS and ISC | NA | NA | 30 | 72 |
*Suspension information is held centrally form April 2020 onwards, to retrieve this information before that time would be require disproportionate effort. The information in the table above is for all suspension regardless of the reason.
(ii) Employees dismissed for gross misconduct in each of the last 10 years | ||||||||||
Business Area | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 |
Border Force | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | NA | NA | 18 |
Immigration Enforcement | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | NA | NA | 6 |
Borders and Enforcement | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 7 | 14 | NA |
HM Passport Office | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | NA | NA |
Visas & Immigration | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | NA | NA |
VIP except IHS and ISC | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 14 | 22 |
The departmental data from 2021 onwards could not be structured as stipulated in the question, this is due to internal reorganisation within the Home Office - the timeseries provided represents figures as the organisation was structured as at 31st March each year.
Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that competent authorities issue decisions on (a) reasonable grounds within five working days and (b) conclusive grounds within 30 days of a reasonable grounds decision; and if her Department will provide support for all victims of modern slavery who have been given a positive conclusive grounds decision for at least 12 months.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Government is committed to tackling modern slavery; ensuring that victims are provided with the support they need to begin rebuilding their lives and that those responsible are prosecuted.
The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is the UK’s framework for identifying and referring potential victims of modern slavery which works to ensure that confirmed victims receive support until they no longer have recovery needs, or until these needs are met by other services, including if this takes 12 months, or longer.
The unprecedented increase in the volume of referrals into the NRM has presented significant challenges in resourcing and workflow, and we recognise that wait times are too long. Work has been done to increase capacity for decision making, improve operational effectiveness and testing alternative approaches to decision making, but recognise that more needs to be done and are considering options. I am as keen as you to ensure that this happens.
We keep all policies and processes under review.
The Modern Slavery Statutory Guidance sets out when access to modern slavery support may be withheld and that potential victims in the NRM can choose to have legal representation. It also sets out the current prioritisation approach and priorities can change periodically in line with Ministerial arrangements under the Equality Act 2010. Any changes to the prioritisation criteria will be reflected in this guidance.