Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of support available for migrant victims of domestic abuse.
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: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she has taken to provide support for (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in London which have seen an increase in the number of pupils who are asylum seekers since 2021.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Government is committed to providing a world class education system for all pupils and has invested significantly in education to achieve that.
All pupils, regardless of immigration status, are entitled to education between the ages of 5 to 16 and are free to apply for a school place at any time.
Asylum seeker pupils attract funding to their school in the same way as all other pupils. This is allocated through the schools National Funding Formula. In April 2022, the Department also permanently extended free school meal (FSM) and pupil premium eligibility to include pupils in households with no recourse to public funds, which includes children of asylum seekers. This approach to funding ensures that asylum seeker pupils attract the same basic per pupil funding amount as other pupils and any additional funding related to asylum seeking pupils’ specific needs and characteristics, such as pupils eligible for FSM, pupils with English as an additional language, and socioeconomic disadvantage.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many domestic abuse survivors who (a) were employed and not in receipt of benefits, (b) were unemployed and not in receipt of benefits, (c) had no recourse to public funds, (d) were unemployed and in receipt of benefits and (e) were employed and in receipt of benefits have been admitted to domestic violence refuge shelters in the latest period for which data is available.
Answered by Felicity Buchan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
As set out previously, since 2020 the Department has provided £393.9 million in funding to local councils for the provision of support in domestic abuse safe accommodation - £16.6 million in 2020/21, £125 million in both 2021/22 and 2022/23 and £127.3 million for 2023/24. The links can be found here.
In addition, we have committed to a further £129.7 million for the delivery of these duties in 2024/25. The link can be found here.
This funding is for support which is available to all domestic abuse victims who are residing in refuges and other types of safe accommodation regardless of their employment status.
The Department does not hold employment and benefits data on individuals in domestic abuse safe accommodation services.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment the Government has made of the impact of the No Recourse to Public Funds policy on (a) child poverty and (b) child health inequalities.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department has made no recent assessments, and it has no plans to do so in the future.
DWP has no powers to award public funds benefits to an individual whose Home Office immigration status restricts access to public funds. Those on certain visa routes, including the family and human rights routes, can apply, for free, to have public funds access restrictions lifted 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.
Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 imposes a general duty on local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of “children in need” in their area. Support provided to a child by local authorities under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 is not dependent on the immigration status of the child or their parent(s). In addition, individuals with no recourse to public funds can also benefit from the Household Support Fund and may be able to receive support in limited circumstances, as determined by Local Authorities.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending eligibility for cost of living support schemes to include people with no recourse to public funds.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government has provided a wide range of measures to support with the cost of living in 22/23, including the Energy Bill Support Scheme and the Energy Price Guarantee which are available to all households with a domestic electricity bill. To ensure stability and certainty for households we are providing further cost of living support in 2023/24, including maintaining the Energy Price Guarantee at £2,500 for a further three months, from April 2023.
There is a general expectation that people wishing to come to the UK can maintain themselves and their families until they are settled here. Those granted immigration leave with a No Recourse to Public Funds condition are not therefore eligible for means-tested benefits or the Cost of Living Payment. However, we are increasing the National Living Wage (NLW) by 9.7% to £10.42 an hour for workers aged 23 and over, from 1 April 2023 for those individuals who have a right to work.
Local Authorities can provide a basic safety net support to an individual, regardless of their immigration status, if there is a genuine care need that does not arise solely from destitution, for example if:
Local Authorities must use their judgement to decide what legal powers and funding can be used to support individuals who are ineligible for public funds or statutory housing assistance.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment with his Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the No Recourse to Public Funds policy on levels of (a) poverty and (b) inequality.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department has made no recent assessments, and it has no plans to do so in the future.
DWP has no powers to award public funds benefits to an individual whose Home Office immigration status restricts access to public funds. Those on certain visa routes, including the family and human rights routes, can apply, for free, to have public funds access restrictions lifted 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.
Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 imposes a general duty on local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of “children in need” in their area. Support provided to a child by local authorities under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 is not dependent on the immigration status of the child or their parent(s). In addition, individuals with no recourse to public funds can also benefit from the Household Support Fund and may be able to receive support in limited circumstances, as determined by Local Authorities.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the provision of free (a) breakfasts and (b) lunches in schools.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Since 2010, the number of children receiving a free meal at school has increased by more than two million. This increase in provision is due to the introduction of universal infant free school meals and generous protections put in place as benefit recipients move across to universal credit.
The Department will continue to keep all free school meal (FSM) eligibility under review to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them. Most recently, the Department has:
Over a third of pupils in England now receive FSM, compared with one in six in 2010. The Department has made further funding available to the National School Breakfast Programme to extend the programme for another year, backed by up to £30 million. Research has revealed the benefits breakfast clubs have had on children in disadvantaged areas, including with their improved readiness to be taught, increased concentration, and improved wellbeing and behaviour.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of including those with no recourse to public funds in cost-of-living support schemes.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
Successive governments have taken the view that access to benefits and other publicly funded services should reflect the strength of a migrant’s connections to the UK and, in the main, only become available to migrants when they have become settled here with indefinite leave to remain (ILR).
The Government is committed to protecting vulnerable people and has ensured support has been available to those with NRPF when it has been appropriate to do so, including as part of cost-of-living support schemes.
In recognition of the growing cost of living pressures, the £11.7 billion Energy Bills Support Scheme forms part of the £37 billion cost of living assistance package for consumers over the winter of 2022 to 2023 to support families with rising global energy prices. Those with NRPF will be eligible for some support within this scheme.
To assist more families, those with NRPF can now access free school meals and free early years education for two-year-olds, subject to the relevant income thresholds.
Those who have made the necessary national insurance contributions can also claim contributory benefits such as contribution-based Jobseekers Allowance, statutory sick pay, and state pension.
Migrants with permission under the Family or Private Life routes, or outside the rules on the basis of their Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, or the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route can also apply for free to have their NRPF condition lifted by making a ‘change of conditions’ application. An individual can apply to have their NRPF condition lifted if they are destitute or at risk of imminent destitution, if there are reasons relating to the welfare of a relevant child, or where there are other exceptional financial circumstances.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support people with no recourse to public funds, in the context of the cost-of-living crisis.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
Successive governments have taken the view that access to benefits and other publicly funded services should reflect the strength of a migrant’s connections to the UK and, in the main, only become available to migrants when they have become settled here with indefinite leave to remain (ILR).
The Government is committed to protecting vulnerable people and has ensured support has been available to those with NRPF when it has been appropriate to do so, including as part of cost-of-living support schemes.
In recognition of the growing cost of living pressures, the £11.7 billion Energy Bills Support Scheme forms part of the £37 billion cost of living assistance package for consumers over the winter of 2022 to 2023 to support families with rising global energy prices. Those with NRPF will be eligible for some support within this scheme.
To assist more families, those with NRPF can now access free school meals and free early years education for two-year-olds, subject to the relevant income thresholds.
Those who have made the necessary national insurance contributions can also claim contributory benefits such as contribution-based Jobseekers Allowance, statutory sick pay, and state pension.
Migrants with permission under the Family or Private Life routes, or outside the rules on the basis of their Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, or the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route can also apply for free to have their NRPF condition lifted by making a ‘change of conditions’ application. An individual can apply to have their NRPF condition lifted if they are destitute or at risk of imminent destitution, if there are reasons relating to the welfare of a relevant child, or where there are other exceptional financial circumstances.
Asked by: Lord Leong (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what (1) financial, and (2) training, support they are providing to British national (overseas) (BNOs) citizens born after 1997 to help them enter the UK job market.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The British National (overseas) (BNOs) Welcome Programme was launched in April 2021, providing a UK-wide support package that comprises an easily accessible universal offer and targeted support for those most in need. The universal offer is open to all BN(O) visa holders in the UK and includes a network of 12 virtual Welcome Hubs across the UK, funding for voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations to deliver national and regional projects and a comprehensive Welcome Pack on GOV.UK.
The Programme also funds targeted support, provided by local authorities, on a demand-led basis for individuals requiring additional assistance in English language provision and destitution support. Although, the BN(O) visa has the 'no recourse to public funds' (NRPF) condition attached, any BN(O) visa holder who finds themselves destitute or at risk of destitution may apply for their NRPF status to be lifted to allow them to access financial assistance.
The Programme also funds VCSE organisations at a national and regional level to provide employability support for BN(O)s visa holders. VCSE organisations have facilitated seminars, one to one coaching sessions and entrepreneur networking events to boost skills, confidence and provide interview practice to help BN(O) visa holders obtain employment in line with their experience. Furthermore, estimates are that over 60,000 individual instances of support by our funded VCSE organisations have been delivered over the first 5 months. The list of VCSE organisations funded by HMG can be found (attached) here.