Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to issue visas to those Afghan nationals who worked as translators with the British Armed Forces; and whether such visas will be issued on the same basis as the process already launched in the United States for Afghan nationals who worked as translators with the United States military.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Government recognises the vital role of interpreters and local staff in operations in Afghanistan. That is why there are two dedicated schemes designed to help them relocate to the UK: the ex-gratia scheme and the intimidation policy. Over 1,300 former Afghan interpreters, and their family members, have been relocated to the UK under these schemes since 2014.
Those who apply and are approved for relocation are brought to the UK as soon as suitable accommodation has been sourced and support arrangements are in place.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report of the Select Committee on International Relations The UK’s relationship with the Pacific Alliance, published on 26 June 2019, and the recommendation that "Government should seriously consider removing its short-term visa requirements for citizens of Peru and Colombia", what discussions Home Office ministers or officials have had with (1) the Trade Envoy to Peru and (2) the Trade Commissioner for Latin America, about such requirements.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Decisions on changes to the visa regime are taken following thorough consultation across government and reflect key facets of the bilateral relationship with the country concerned. These often include security, compliance, returns, and prosperity.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 16 November (HL Deb, col 1272) that the Home Office keeps the UK visa regime under review, what mechanism they have in place to ensure the Home Office regularly hears the views of other departments on the visa regime applied to Peru.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Decisions on changes to the visa regime are taken following thorough consultation across government and reflect key facets of the bilateral relationship with the country concerned. These often include security, compliance, returns, and prosperity.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many flights of private aircraft (1) landed, and (2) departed, from UK airfields from the start of lockdown on 17 March to 14 April; and what measures they have in place to record the identity and contact details of the passengers and crew of such flights so that they can be traced if any develop COVID-19.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
For the period 17 March to 14 April 2020, 1,812 International and Common Travel Area flights landed at UK Airports. This figure includes planes of all type, whether privately owned, business jets, cargo aircraft and military flights. Border Force does not have data for internal (domestic) or outbound flights. There is no Public Health England requirement to record contact details for arriving or departing passengers for Covid-19 purposes.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures, if any, have been put in place to ensure that the Government Equalities Office has regular input into policy proposals to be put forward by (1) the Home Office, (2) the Ministry of Defence, (3) the Department for International Development, and (4) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, with particular regard to policies on gender equality.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
All public bodies in Great Britain, including Whitehall departments, have a legal obligation under the Public Sector Equality Duty to consider the potential effects of key decisions on groups with protected characteristics including gender.
They are also required to set and publish specific and measurable equality objectives which Whitehall departments have for the last two years included in their Single Departmental Plans. The Government Equalities Office (GEO) encourages departments to publish equality objectives that cover strategic policy work and not only workforce and Human Relations issues. In addition to this, the International Development Act (Gender Equality) 2014 puts the Department for International Development’s commitment to gender equality on a statutory footing and ensures that gender equality remains at the heart of its work.
GEO has engaged with the specific departments listed on a number of policies including those related to gender equality. For example, as part of the Government’s Violence Against Women and Girls’ Strategy, GEO are working alongside Home Office on work to tackle harmful gender norms.