Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 27 Nov 2025
Crime and Policing Bill
"Before my noble friend rises to reply, I want to emphasise, as someone who has practised at the Bar over many decades, like the noble Baroness, Lady Cash, the importance of our recognising in the course of these discussions that, while we are dealing here with a spate of offences …..."Baroness Kennedy of Shaws - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 27 Nov 2025
Crime and Policing Bill
"My Lords, I was stimulated to rise by something that the noble Baroness, Lady Doocey, said. She was speaking to the reply that had been given by the Minister, and it made me think that what has to be looked at here is the law and its inadequacies in dealing …..."Baroness Kennedy of Shaws - View Speech
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Written Question
Wednesday 22nd November 2023
Asked by:
Baroness Kennedy of Shaws (Labour - Life peer)
Question
to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many Afghans have been accepted under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme whose resettlement is suspended; what is the cause of, and what steps are being taken to resolve, such suspensions; and what assistance is being provided to families pending resettlement.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom
- Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
We continue to honour our commitment to bring eligible Afghans to the UK and plans are underway to relocate families as soon as possible. Data on how many Afghans have been accepted on ACRS and are in third countries is internal operational data and not for release at this time.
Written Question
Wednesday 22nd November 2023
Asked by:
Baroness Kennedy of Shaws (Labour - Life peer)
Question
to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how are decisions made on, and what is the process for, resettling more Afghans from Pakistan who are facing expulsion in addition to the 3,000 already accepted under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme; and what steps they are taking in that regard, including on prioritising the 20 female Afghan judges who are in Pakistan.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom
- Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
Resettlement of eligible Afghans remains a top priority for this government. As of June 2023, around 24,600 vulnerable people affected by the events in Afghanistan have been brought to safety. This includes British Nationals and their families, Afghans who loyally served the UK and others identified as particularly at-risk, such as campaigners for women’s rights, human rights defenders, Chevening scholars, journalists, judges and members of the LGBT+ community.
We are aware of the recent Government of Pakistan announcements regarding Afghans in Pakistan and appreciate the impact of this on those awaiting resettlement. HMG has engaged intensively with the Government of Pakistan to secure assurances that none of those eligible under the UK’s Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) will be subject to deportation.
Visas continue to be issued to individuals eligible for the ACRS and ARAP schemes and flights are continuing to bring eligible Afghans to the UK.
The ACRS is not open to applications. Instead, eligible individuals are prioritised and referred for resettlement to the UK through the existing pathways under this scheme. We are not certain which female Afghan judges the question refers to; however our Afghan schemes have been designed to be fair and equitable in identifying those in need of resettlement or relocation to the UK. As has been the practice under successive governments, the Home Office does not routinely comment on individual cases.
We recognise there are many vulnerable individuals who remain in Afghanistan and the region. Whilst the UK maintains a generous resettlement offer, we must recognise that the capacity of the UK to resettle people is not unlimited, and difficult decisions have to be made on who will be prioritised for resettlement.
Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 12 May 2022
Queen’s Speech
"My Lords, it should surprise no one in this House that I am going to speak on the Government’s disgraceful plans to remove rights, undermine vital citizens’ protections and attack liberty, while at the same time pretending to be great champions of freedom. The background briefing to this part of …..."Baroness Kennedy of Shaws - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 28 Mar 2022
Homes for Ukraine Scheme
"I also welcome the noble Lord to his role. I have heard only good things about him, and I wish him well in what he is doing—it is so important. First, I will ask something that was raised by the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay: how many Ukrainians have arrived in …..."Baroness Kennedy of Shaws - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 22 Mar 2022
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
"My Lords, I support the noble Lord, Lord Russell. I am glad that he referred to the fact that Scotland had commissioned a report on this. Indeed, the report, which I chaired the working group to complete, took the same view as the Law Commission of England and Wales, in …..."Baroness Kennedy of Shaws - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 02 Mar 2022
Nationality and Borders Bill
"Will the noble Lord give way?..."Baroness Kennedy of Shaws - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 02 Mar 2022
Nationality and Borders Bill
"My Lords, I support all the amendments in this group. I particularly want to mention the amendment tabled by my noble friend Lord Dubs, and spoken to powerfully by the noble Lord, Lord Kerr, about the importance of reunion of families.
As some noble Lords will know, I have recently …..."Baroness Kennedy of Shaws - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 02 Mar 2022
Nationality and Borders Bill
"..."Baroness Kennedy of Shaws - View Speech
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