Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department is taking to initiate discussions with his European counterparts on the potential impact of the Court of Justice of the European Union's recent ruling on visible religious symbols for British citizens who work in the EU.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We note the recent Court of Justice of the European Union (EU) ruling on the prohibition of visible religious symbols in government offices.
This case is a matter for the EU and its Member States. We will continue, as part of our wider work on freedom of religion or belief, to monitor the situation of religious or belief communities, including where applicable, as this relates to British citizens working in the EU.
The UK Government is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief for all, and promoting mutual respect, here in the UK and internationally. Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) is a longstanding human rights priority for the UK.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to his Department’s consultation on reforms to social housing allocations, published on 30 January 2024, whether (a) EEA, (b) Swiss citizens and (c) their non-EEA/Swiss family members with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (i) have equal treatment rights and (ii) will continue to be eligible for social housing under the proposals set out in that consultation.
Answered by Jacob Young - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
If a person has equal treatment protection in matters of housing under the Withdrawal Agreement, the EEA-EFTA Separation Agreement or the Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement, they will meet the UK connection test as proposed in the consultation on social housing allocations reform.
The UK connection test will only need to be met by individuals who make an application for social housing, not the entire household.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing to those UK citizens names as co-conspirators in the trial of Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As the Minister for the Indo-Pacific said on 23 January, it is unacceptable that British nationals, including the former Consul-General, have been named by the prosecution in Jimmy Lai's national security trial in Hong Kong. We have made clear our concerns to the Chinese authorities. The Minister for the Indo-Pacific has met with several of the named individuals, who bravely speak out on human rights concerns in Hong Kong and China, despite threats to themselves. We will not tolerate any attempts to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the UK. The UK has no active extradition agreement with Hong Kong or China.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to help ensure the safety of British citizens involved in international political movements.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
The UK is proud of its diverse communities, and British Sikhs contribute immensely to the strength of our society.
We continually assess potential threats in the UK, and take the protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK seriously.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had recent discussions with his Pakistani counterpart on (a) the principle of non-refoulement and (b) its other obligations under international human rights law in the context of the treatment of Afghan refugees.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government is working with the UN Refugee Agency and other international organisations to monitor the return of Afghans from Pakistan, including the humanitarian and human rights implications. We regularly raise human rights at the highest levels with the Government of Pakistan. The Foreign Secretary met with Pakistan's Caretaker Foreign Minister on 30 November 2023 and received assurances towards the safety of Afghans who are eligible for UK resettlement under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) schemes. Since September, we have committed £18.5 million to the International Organisation for Migration in Afghanistan to support undocumented returnees.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if his Department will provide EU citizens with (a) pre-settled and (b) settled status (i) a stamp in their passport, (ii) a biometric card and (iii) other physical proof of their legal right of residence.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
As part of our move to a “digital by default” border and immigration system, physical documents such as Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) and passports with vignette stickers or ‘wet ink stamps’ are being replaced by fully digital eVisas (an online record of the person’s immigration status).
All EU, EEA and Swiss citizens granted pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme are now able to prove their rights in the UK digitally, by using the View and Prove service on GOV.UK, instead of using physical documents. Non-EU, EEA or Swiss citizen family members who have a UKVI account can also use the View and Prove service.
There are no plans to provide EU citizens granted under the EUSS with stamps in passports, biometric cards, or other physical proof of rights of residence.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what routes to review are available to individuals who wish to challenge a decision on their application to the EU settlement scheme on the grounds of error if the decision was made on or after 5 October 2023.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
Under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), the option of administrative review no longer applies where a decision was made on an EUSS application on or after 5 October 2023.
The right of appeal under the Immigration (Citizens’ Rights Appeals) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 will continue to meet our obligations under the Citizens’ Rights Agreements to provide a means of redress for relevant decisions under the EUSS.
The change aligns the EUSS with other UK immigration routes, none of which provide for both an administrative review and a right of appeal.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of reintroducing the right to an administrative review of decisions on applications to the EU settlement scheme.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
Under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), the option of administrative review no longer applies where a decision was made on an EUSS application on or after 5 October 2023.
The right of appeal under the Immigration (Citizens’ Rights Appeals) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 will continue to meet our obligations under the Citizens’ Rights Agreements to provide a means of redress for relevant decisions under the EUSS.
The change aligns the EUSS with other UK immigration routes, none of which provide for both an administrative review and a right of appeal.
Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his oral contribution of 4 December 2023, Official Report, column 41, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a statutory right for British citizens to be joined by their non-UK spouse or partner on a family visa.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The announcements made on 4 December relate solely to the level of the minimum income requirement (MIR). There are no current plans to make any changes to the rules regarding job offers or third-party support, although we keep all our rules under review.
British citizens and those settled in the UK are free to enter into a genuine relationship with whomever they choose, but if they wish to establish their family life in the UK, it is appropriate they should do so on a basis which prevents burdens on the taxpayer and promotes integration. This is fair to migrants and to the wider community.
Support from a third party cannot generally be counted towards the MIR. The applicant and their partner must generally have the required resources under their own control, not somebody else’s.
Under the Immigration Rules, consideration of other credible and reliable sources of income, financial support, or funds available to the couple, may be taken into account where an applicant is unable to meet the MIR and refusal of an application for a partner visa could otherwise breach Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. This may include credible prospective earnings from employment based on a confirmed job offer in the UK. Full details of the circumstances of when such a confirmed job offer or third party support may be considered as counting toward the MIR can be found in the published guidance at Gov.UK.
Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his oral contribution of 4 December 2023, Official Report, column 41, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing third party support from the (a) parents and (b) siblings of the (i) applicant and (ii) their partner to contribute towards the minimum income requirement for family visas.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The announcements made on 4 December relate solely to the level of the minimum income requirement (MIR). There are no current plans to make any changes to the rules regarding job offers or third-party support, although we keep all our rules under review.
British citizens and those settled in the UK are free to enter into a genuine relationship with whomever they choose, but if they wish to establish their family life in the UK, it is appropriate they should do so on a basis which prevents burdens on the taxpayer and promotes integration. This is fair to migrants and to the wider community.
Support from a third party cannot generally be counted towards the MIR. The applicant and their partner must generally have the required resources under their own control, not somebody else’s.
Under the Immigration Rules, consideration of other credible and reliable sources of income, financial support, or funds available to the couple, may be taken into account where an applicant is unable to meet the MIR and refusal of an application for a partner visa could otherwise breach Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. This may include credible prospective earnings from employment based on a confirmed job offer in the UK. Full details of the circumstances of when such a confirmed job offer or third party support may be considered as counting toward the MIR can be found in the published guidance at Gov.UK.