Asked by: Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Labour (Co-op) - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to expand the Tier 5 visa scheme to include European countries.
Answered by Kevin Foster
Following the end of free movement, as part of the new single global points immigration system, EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens, alongside nationals of all other European countries, are able to benefit from the full range of core T5 (Temporary Worker) routes.
Whilst the Hon Member is not clear which of the routes under Tier 5 he is actually referring to, it might from the wording be the T5 (Temporary Worker) Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS). This is a cultural exchange programme, allowing young people aged 18 to 30 from participating countries and territories to experience life in the UK for up to two years. It currently includes one European Country, San Marino, following a bilateral agreement between our two nations.
Each YMS is subject to a bilateral, reciprocal agreement which also provides benefit to UK nationals. The Home Office will not add nations to the scheme unilaterally in the absence of such an agreement. We do however, remain open to concluding further agreements on this reciprocal basis, including with European countries.
Asked by: Charles Walker (Conservative - Broxbourne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending Tier 5 visas for overseas 18 to 30 year olds; and if she will make statement.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) is a cultural exchange programme, allowing young people aged 18 to 30 from participating countries and territories to experience life in the UK for up to two years.
The UK currently operates nine Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) arrangements with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, San Marino, Japan, Monaco, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. We have indicated our desire to negotiate further agreements with our international partners.
However, as each YMS is subject to a bilateral, reciprocal agreement which also provides benefit to UK Nationals, the Home Office will not add nations to the scheme unilaterally in the absence of such an agreement.
Asked by: Andrew Bowie (Conservative - West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether a decision has been taken on the expansion of the Youth Mobility Scheme to European nationals.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The UK currently operates nine Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) arrangements with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, San Marino, Japan, Monaco, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
As each YMS is subject to a bilateral, reciprocal agreement which also provides benefit to UK Nationals, the Home Office will not add nations to the scheme unilaterally in the absence of such an agreement.
Looking to the future, we have indicated our desire to negotiate a youth mobility arrangement with the EU, or with individual countries within it if a collective agreement is not possible.
Asked by: Wayne David (Labour - Caerphilly)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what consular assistance arrangements his Department has with embassies and consulates of Commonwealth countries in (a) Andorra, (b) Benin, (c) Burkina Faso, (d) Cape Verde, (e) Central African Republic, (f) Comoros, (g) Congo, (h) Djibouti, (i) Dominica, (j) East Timor, (k) Equatorial Guinea, (l) Gabon, (m) Guinea-Bissau, (n) Honduras, (o) Liechtenstein, (p) Monaco, (q) Nicaragua, (r) San Marino, (s) St Kitts and Nevis, (t) Suriname, (u) Togo and (v) Tonga.
Answered by Nigel Adams
We provide help and support to British nationals around the world 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, through our network of trained staff, including our network of over 200 Honorary Consuls (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/909020/Honorary_Consulates_August_2020.csv/preview). British nationals in these countries who require Consular assistance can contact the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office 24/7 for help or advice by calling 0207 008 5000, or contacting their nearest British embassy, High Commission or Consulate (https://www.gov.uk/world/embassies).
In one of the few countries where there is no British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate, we may provide in country support via agreements with partner countries, and/or existing coverage from FCDO posts in neighbouring countries. Commonwealth embassies may offer to help British nationals. We may also help Commonwealth nationals in non-Commonwealth countries where they do not have diplomatic or consular representation, but will normally ask their nearest embassy to provide any ongoing assistance required.
Details of the remit of our consular support are set out in Support for British Nationals Abroad: A Guide (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/914039/FCO_BritsAbroad_A4web_020920.pdf).
Asked by: Wayne David (Labour - Caerphilly)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the number of visits made by UK citizens to the following countries, per annum, in the past 5 years: (a) Andorra, (b) Benin, (c) Burkina Faso, (d) Cape Verde, (e) Central African Republic, (f) Comoros, (g) Congo, (h) Djibouti, (i) Dominica, (j) East Timor, (k) Equatorial Guinea, (l) Gabon, (m) Guinea-Bissau, (n) Honduras, (o) Liechtenstein, (p) Monaco, (q) Nicaragua, (r) San Marino, (s) St Kitts and Nevis, (t) Suriname, (u) Togo and (v) Tonga.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The FCDO does not require British travellers to register with us when they go overseas. Therefore we do not hold data on the number of citizens who visited these countries. UK nationals visiting these countries who need assistance can call any of our embassies, high commissions or consulates, or the FCO switchboard, 24/7 for advice or help.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2020 to Question 89629, whether her Department has not yet signed agreements to roll over current trade arrangements with 31 non-EU countries, comprising (a) the 23 countries listed in the Trade Agreements Still in Discussion section of her Department’s website and (b) Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Suriname, Samoa, Comoros, San Marino and Andorra.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
We are continuing our programme to replicate the effects of existing EU trade agreements with trading partners to secure continuity for British businesses following the transition period. An up-to-date list of trade continuity agreements, signed and in discussion, is publicly available on GOV.UK (LINK) – and this will be updated to reflect a change in status for agreements in discussion when they are signed.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which embassies represent the UK in more than one state.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The following Missions represent the United Kingdom in more than one State, as duly indicated:
British Embassy in Angola (São Tomé and Príncipe)
British High Commission in Barbados (Dominica, St Kitts & Nevis)
British High Commission in Cameroon (Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Chad*)
British Embassy in Costa Rica (Nicaragua)
British Embassy in Democratic Republic of Congo (Republic of Congo, Central African Republic)
British Embassy in Ethiopia (Djibouti*)
British High Commission in Fiji (Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Kiribati, Tonga*, Tuvalu)
British Embassy in France (Monaco)
British High Commission in Ghana (Togo, Burkina Faso, Benin)
British Embassy in Guatemala (Honduras)
British High Commission in Guyana (Suriname)
British Embassy in Indonesia (East Timor)
British Embassy in Italy (San Marino)
British Embassy in Madagascar (Comoros)
British Embassy in Mali (Niger*)
British High Commission in New Zealand (Samoa*)
British Embassy in Philippines (Palau)
British High Commission in Rwanda (Burundi)
British Embassy in Senegal (Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau)
British High Commission in Solomon Islands (Nauru)
British Embassy in Spain (Andorra)
British Embassy in Switzerland (Liechtenstein)
*Resident Heads of Mission are due to be appointed to these countries by the end of 2021.
Information on British Missions overseas including through links to details on their services and responsibilities can be found on the following public website: https://www.gov.uk/world/embassies
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, which of the EU's trade agreements with third countries has the Government not yet secured agreement with those countries to roll over.
Answered by George Hollingbery
In the event of the UK leaving the EU with a negotiated agreement, the UK and EU have agreed that existing international agreements would apply as they do today for the duration of the implementation period.
Nevertheless, we have been working with our trading partners to have bilateral agreements ready in place for when we need them, whether that is after an Implementation Period or for a potential No Deal. We have signed or agreed in principle agreements with 32 countries. Total trade in 2018 between the UK and these countries accounted for 63% of the UK’s trade with all the countries with which the UK is seeking continuity in the event of a potential No Deal.1 That has moved from 28% since March. A regularly updated list of agreements signed is available on GOV.UK and alongside a list of remaining agreements.
1 The figures quoted above are based on total goods and services trade (imports and exports) with the UK, according to the most recent data (ONS, 2018). They cover 65 countries that are party to 35 agreements. These are the countries covered by existing EU agreements in force in 2018. This excludes Turkey, Andorra, San Marino which are part of customs unions with the EU, and Japan, as the Economic Partnership Agreement only came into force on 1st February 2019.
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what estimate he has made of the number of EU free trade agreements which will have novated to the UK when the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Hollingbery
In the event of the UK leaving the EU with a negotiated agreement, the UK and EU have currently agreed that existing international agreements would apply as they do today for the duration of the implementation period.
Nevertheless, we have been working with our trading partners to have bilateral agreements ready in place for when we need them, whether that is after an Implementation Period or for a potential No Deal.
We are making progress and have signed or agreed in principle agreements with 32 countries. Total trade in 2018 between the UK and these countries accounted for 63% of the UK’s trade with all the countries with which the UK is seeking continuity in the event of a potential No Deal.1 That has moved from 28% since March. A regularly updated list of agreements signed is available on GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/signed-uk-trade-agreements-transitioned-from-the-eu
1 The figures quoted above are based on total goods and services trade (imports and exports) with the UK, according to the most recent data (ONS, 2018).[1] They cover 65 countries that are party to 35 agreements. These are the countries covered by existing EU agreements in force in 2018. As above, this excludes Turkey, Andorra, San Marino which are part of customs unions with the EU and Japan, as the Economic Partnership Agreement only came into force on 1st February 2019
Asked by: Philip Hollobone (Conservative - Kettering)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, for each EU Member State, how many prisoners have been transferred (a) to and (b) from the UK under the EU Prisoner Transfer Directive.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Any foreign national who comes to our country and abuses our hospitality by breaking the law should be in no doubt of our determination to punish and deport them. More than 45,000 foreign national offenders have been removed from the UK since 2010, and in the last financial year almost 6,000 were removed from prisons, immigration removal centres, and the community.
The Early Removal Scheme is the principal method for removing foreign national offenders early from prison. In 2017/18, over 2,000 foreign national offenders were removed under this scheme. Prisoners may also be transferred to a prison in their own country under Prisoner Transfer Agreements. The principal compulsory prisoner transfer scheme is the EU Prisoner Transfer Framework Decision (2008/909/JHA). In addition, compulsory transfer may take place under the Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, and a small number of bilateral prisoner transfer agreements.
Our departure from the European Union will have implications on prisoner transfers to the EU. If we leave the EU without a ‘deal’, we will lose access to the EU Prisoner Transfer Framework Decision. This will mean falling back on the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and its Additional Protocol, which we believe to be a less effective mechanism than the EU agreement. Therefore, under a ‘no deal’ scenario we should be prepared to see a decline in the number of transfers to and from the EU.
The tables below provide information for England and Wales, taken from Management Information. In relation to British national prisoners transferred into England and Wales, Management Information does not distinguish between prisoners transferred under the EU Prisoner Transfer Framework Decision and the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. Transfer may therefore have taken place on either a voluntary or compulsory basis. Please note that transfers have not taken place to several countries listed in the tables below as the UK either does not hold nationals from those countries in our prisons, or because there are concerns that prisons might be in breach of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The transfer of prisoners into and out of Scotland and Northern Ireland is a devolved matter.
Table 1: Transfer under the EU Prisoner Transfer Framework Decision (EU PTFD) | ||||
Country | Date country ratified the EU PTFD | Number of foreign national prisoners transferred from England and Wales | Number of British national prisoners transferred into England and Wales | |
1 | Austria | 01/01/2012 | -- | 1 |
2 | Belgium | 18/06/2012 | 17 | 3 |
3 | Bulgaria | Not ratified | -- | -- |
4 | Croatia | 01/07/2013 | -- | 1 |
5 | Cyprus | 23/05/2014 | 1 | 5 |
6 | Czech Republic | 01/01/2014 | 12 | 3 |
7 | Denmark | 05/12/2011 | 1 | 6 |
8 | Estonia | 01/01/2015 | 1 | -- |
9 | Finland | 05/12/2011 | -- | 1 |
10 | France | 05/08/2013 | -- | -- |
11 | Germany | 25/07/2015 | 2 | 9 |
12 | Greece | 15/11/2014 | -- | 2 |
13 | Hungary | 01/01/2013 | -- | 1 |
14 | Italy | 05/12/2011 | 9 | 9 |
15 | Ireland (Republic) | Not ratified | -- | -- |
16 | Latvia | 01/07/2012 | 15 | -- |
17 | Lithuania | 01/04/2015 | 28 | -- |
18 | Luxembourg | 05/12/2011 | -- | 2 |
19 | Malta | 03/02/2012 | 1 | 1 |
20 | Netherlands | 01/11/2012 | 141 | 6 |
21 | Poland | 01/01/2012 | 35 | -- |
22 | Portugal | 17/12/2015 | 9 | 7 |
23 | Romania | 26/12/2013 | 56 | -- |
24 | Slovakia | 01/02/2012 | 17 | 2 |
25 | Slovenia | 20/09/2013 | -- | -- |
26 | Spain | 11/12/2014 | 9 | 40 |
27 | Sweden | 01/04/2015 | 3 | 1 |
Total | 357 | 100 | ||
Table 2: Transfer Under the Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons This table does not include EU Member States which have ratified the Additional Protocol as transfers take place under the EU Prisoner Transfer Framework Decision. Please note: the date of entry into force has been taken as the date the UK ratified the Additional Protocol or the date of ratification by the named country, whichever is the later date. | ||||
Country | Date the Additional Protocol entered into force | Number of foreign national prisoners transferred from England and Wales | Number of British national prisoners transferred into England and Wales | |
1 | Bulgaria | 01/11/2009 | -- | -- |
2 | Georgia | 01/11/2009 | -- | -- |
3 | Iceland | 01/11/2009 | -- | -- |
4 | Lichtenstein | 01/11/2009 | -- | -- |
5 | FRY Macedonia | 01/11/2009 | -- | -- |
6 | Moldova | 01/11/2009 | -- | -- |
7 | Montenegro | 01/11/2009 | -- | -- |
8 | Norway | 01/11/2009 | -- | -- |
9 | Russia | 01/11/2009 | -- | -- |
10 | Serbia | 01/11/2009 | -- | -- |
11 | San Marino | 01/11/2009 | -- | -- |
12 | Switzerland | 01/10/2014 | -- | -- |
13 | Turkey | 01/09/2016 | -- | -- |
14 | Ukraine | 01/11/2009 | -- | -- |
Table 3: Bilateral Prisoner Transfer Agreements | ||||
Country | Date the Bilateral Prisoner Transfer Agreement came into force | Number of foreign national prisoners transferred from England and Wales | Number of British national prisoners transferred into England and Wales | |
1 | Albania | 11/06/2013 | 24 | 2 |
2 | Ghana | 06/07/2017 | -- | -- |
3 | Libya | 29/04/2009 | -- | -- |
4 | Nigeria | 29/09/2014 | 1 | -- |
5 | Rwanda | 23/11/2010 | -- | -- |
6 | Somaliland | Not Available | -- | -- |
Total | 25 | 2 | ||