Asked by: Andrew Western (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many application forms for Healthy Start payments have been sent out to families with no recourse to public funds with British children.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
The Department has sent out over 1,300 application forms to those who have requested them. The Department does not hold information on the recipients of the application forms.
As of 18 August 2023, the Department has received 110 fully completed applications that have demonstrated that the applicant met the eligibility criteria. The Department does not collect and therefore hold data on all applications made, as some applicants do not meet all the eligibility criteria, and these applications are not stored.
Asked by: Andrew Western (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many applications for the Healthy Start payments have been made from applicants with no recourse to public funds with British children.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
The Department has sent out over 1,300 application forms to those who have requested them. The Department does not hold information on the recipients of the application forms.
As of 18 August 2023, the Department has received 110 fully completed applications that have demonstrated that the applicant met the eligibility criteria. The Department does not collect and therefore hold data on all applications made, as some applicants do not meet all the eligibility criteria, and these applications are not stored.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Gloucester (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to publish the evaluation of the Support for Migrant Victims pilot scheme.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
In 2021 the Government awarded the charity Southall Black Sisters £1.4 million to run the Support for Migrant Victims (SMV) Scheme pilot. This was following the Government’s review (in 2020) of its response to migrant victims who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF). This funding has now been extended until March 2025.
The independent evaluation of the SMV Scheme considered the implementation and delivery of the pilot, the experiences and outcomes for those who accessed it, and how the pilot sat alongside existing support for migrant victims of domestic abuse. A total of 425 victims were supported during the pilot.
When we have carefully considered the findings, we will publish the evaluation in due course.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will make an equality impact assessment of the potential impact of the no recourse to public funds condition on single mothers.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Government published an overarching Equality Impact Assessment on the Compliant Environment measures, of which the NRPF is part, earlier this year: Compliant environment: overarching equality impact assessment (accessible) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield, Hallam)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made a recent assessment of the impact of the Government's policy on no recourse to public funds on single mothers.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Government published an overarching Equality Impact Assessment on the Compliant Environment measures, of which NRPF is part, earlier this year: Compliant environment: overarching equality impact assessment (accessible) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department is taking steps to support those on a British National (Overseas) Visa to enter work.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Individuals who have a British National (Overseas) visa have the right to work and study in the UK, but in most circumstances would have a No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition attached to their visa. DWP has no powers to award Universal Credit to those with NRPF.
They can apply to have their NRPF condition lifted by making a ‘change of condition’ application if they are destitute or at risk of destitution, if the welfare of their child is at risk due to their low income, or where there are other exceptional financial circumstances. If this application is successful then they can apply for Universal Credit and access the full range of DWP employment services.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if the Government will provide financial assistance to people from Hong Kong living in the UK on British National Overseas visas who have been denied access to their pensions under the Mandatory Provident Fund following changes in legislation by the Chinese Government.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are aware of the difficulties BN(O)s are experiencing in seeking early withdrawal of their pension held by the Mandatory Provident Fund in Hong Kong. We have urged the Hong Kong authorities to facilitate the early drawdown of funds as is the case for other Hong Kong residents who move overseas permanently. BN(O) visa holders have virtually unrestricted access to employment opportunities in the UK and can work at any skill or salary level. We do, however, recognise that people may fall on hard times. Those on the BN(O) route can apply to the Home Office for a change of conditions to have their No Recourse to Public Funds condition lifted in the event they become destitute, are at imminent risk of destitution, there is a risk to the welfare of a child or the applicant is experiencing exception financial circumstances. This allows successful applicants to access support including benefits, tax credits and housing assistance.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support migrant victims of domestic abuse in the UK.
Answered by Sarah Dines
Tackling domestic abuse is a key priority for this Government. Information on support for victims, including guidance on the Destitute Domestic Violence Concession (DDVC), can be found on the Domestic abuse: how to get help page on GOV.UK. Further advice and support can be accessed through Government’s ‘Enough’ Campaign.
The DDVC allows for eligible migrant victims to apply for the lifting of the no recourse to public funds condition associated with their leave, enabling the victim to access welfare benefits while their application for indefinite leave to remain as a victim of domestic abuse is made and considered. The DDVC has operated since 2012 and is widely known throughout the specialist domestic abuse sector.
We recently announced that we are providing a further £1.4 million in 2023/ 24 to continue to fund the Support for Migrants Victim scheme, ensuring we maintain support for migrant victims of domestic abuse regardless of their immigration status. This support includes accommodation, subsistence, legal advice and counselling.
The Home Office is grateful to the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for publishing the ‘Safety Before Status: The Solutions’ report and to the Commissioner’s team and external partners for researching the vital issue of support for migrant victims and survivors of domestic abuse.
We will continue to engage with the Commissioner’s office on recommendations set out in the report, and across government. We have already begun to take forward work that stems from some of the recommendations.
We are giving detailed consideration to the findings of this research and considering the wider policies affecting migrant victims and survivors of domestic abuse. Our official response will be published as soon as is practicable.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to publish its response to the Domestic Abuse Commissioner's second report into migrant survivors Safety before status: the solutions published in December 2022.
Answered by Sarah Dines
Tackling domestic abuse is a key priority for this Government. Information on support for victims, including guidance on the Destitute Domestic Violence Concession (DDVC), can be found on the Domestic abuse: how to get help page on GOV.UK. Further advice and support can be accessed through Government’s ‘Enough’ Campaign.
The DDVC allows for eligible migrant victims to apply for the lifting of the no recourse to public funds condition associated with their leave, enabling the victim to access welfare benefits while their application for indefinite leave to remain as a victim of domestic abuse is made and considered. The DDVC has operated since 2012 and is widely known throughout the specialist domestic abuse sector.
We recently announced that we are providing a further £1.4 million in 2023/ 24 to continue to fund the Support for Migrants Victim scheme, ensuring we maintain support for migrant victims of domestic abuse regardless of their immigration status. This support includes accommodation, subsistence, legal advice and counselling.
The Home Office is grateful to the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for publishing the ‘Safety Before Status: The Solutions’ report and to the Commissioner’s team and external partners for researching the vital issue of support for migrant victims and survivors of domestic abuse.
We will continue to engage with the Commissioner’s office on recommendations set out in the report, and across government. We have already begun to take forward work that stems from some of the recommendations.
We are giving detailed consideration to the findings of this research and considering the wider policies affecting migrant victims and survivors of domestic abuse. Our official response will be published as soon as is practicable.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to ensure that migrant victims of domestic abuse are aware of the Destitute Domestic Violence Concession whilst their DVILR application is considered.
Answered by Sarah Dines
Tackling domestic abuse is a key priority for this Government. Information on support for victims, including guidance on the Destitute Domestic Violence Concession (DDVC), can be found on the Domestic abuse: how to get help page on GOV.UK. Further advice and support can be accessed through Government’s ‘Enough’ Campaign.
The DDVC allows for eligible migrant victims to apply for the lifting of the no recourse to public funds condition associated with their leave, enabling the victim to access welfare benefits while their application for indefinite leave to remain as a victim of domestic abuse is made and considered. The DDVC has operated since 2012 and is widely known throughout the specialist domestic abuse sector.
We recently announced that we are providing a further £1.4 million in 2023/ 24 to continue to fund the Support for Migrants Victim scheme, ensuring we maintain support for migrant victims of domestic abuse regardless of their immigration status. This support includes accommodation, subsistence, legal advice and counselling.
The Home Office is grateful to the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for publishing the ‘Safety Before Status: The Solutions’ report and to the Commissioner’s team and external partners for researching the vital issue of support for migrant victims and survivors of domestic abuse.
We will continue to engage with the Commissioner’s office on recommendations set out in the report, and across government. We have already begun to take forward work that stems from some of the recommendations.
We are giving detailed consideration to the findings of this research and considering the wider policies affecting migrant victims and survivors of domestic abuse. Our official response will be published as soon as is practicable.