Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to start the consultation on the proposed changes to the rules governing indefinite leave to remain set out in the White Paper Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May (CP 1326).
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
We will be consulting on the new settlement rules later this year.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by Citizens Advice The real cost of hidden deals, published on 26 September, in particular the finding that people experiencing financial difficulty are paying more for comparable mobile contracts than the average consumer.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government was concerned that the Citizens Advice report found that people experiencing financial difficulty and those experiencing mental health problems were more likely to find negotiating their fixed telecoms deal more difficult. Officials have met Citizens Advice to understand the report’s findings in more detail.
We are committed to delivering a telecoms market which works for consumers, including clear and transparent pricing. Ofcom, the independent regulator for telecoms, has introduced requirements to make it easier for people to switch provider if they want to. Ofcom also accredits price comparison websites that meet high standards for accessibility, accuracy, and transparency.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice published on 24 July 2024, what steps, if any, they are taking to prevent trade or investment relations that "assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in Palestine".
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
There is already guidance on gov.uk setting out the clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity. Goods originating from illegal Israeli settlements are not entitled to tariff and trade preferences under either the existing agreement between the UK and Israel or in our agreement with the Palestinian Authority.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Hanson of Flinton 4 September (HL Deb col. 918), what is their estimate of the proportion of newly recognised refugees who are single applicants and of working age.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office publishes data on grants of protection and other leave by age at initial decision in table Asy_D02 of the 'Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release' on GOV.UK. The latest data relates to the year ending June 2025.
In the year ending June 2025, 80% (41,574 people) of grants of protection and other leave at initial decision were to people aged between 18 and 69.
A breakdown by single applicant or family group is not available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have considered reversing the burden of proof to require Israeli exporters to demonstrate their goods are not produced in illegal settlements before being imported into the UK.
Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)
The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in Palestine are illegal under international law. The UK Government encourages accurate labelling of goods in order to avoid misleading consumers and promote transparency, including those goods produced in illegal settlements in Palestine. Goods produced in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from preferential tariff treatment under the UK’s current trade agreements with the Palestinian Authority and Israel. Where there are doubts about the declared origin of goods, HMRC undertakes checks to verify the origin and ensure fiscal compliance.
It is a long-standing position that preferential treatment will be refused to Israeli goods if the production conferring originating status has taken place in a location within Palestine brought under Israeli administration since June 1967. A 2004 technical arrangement, rolled over from the EU, requires that the city, village or industrial zone and postcode where production conferring originating status has taken place appear on all proofs of preferential origin issued or made out in Israel. A change in policy to this long-standing requirement is not currently under consideration.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many complaints about inappropriate sexual behaviour at the Army Foundation College were made between 1 January 2018 and 30 June 2025; and of those complaints, how many were made against (1) staff, and (2) junior soldiers.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
There are 176 records on the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system of sexual allegations reported between 1 January 2018 and 30 June 2025 where the unit of the accused was Army Foundation College Harrogate. 32 of those allegations were against Permanent Staff and 144 were against Junior Soldiers.
To note regarding the figures provided:
They may include more than one entry per allegation where, for example, a Court Martial has been followed by Major Administrative Action.
The term ‘inappropriate sexual behaviour’ is not a category on JPA, therefore the figures above include all sexual allegations (regardless of outcome).
Recorded cases may include incidents that occurred outside of the Military which are investigated by the civilian police.
These are single Service estimates based on data which is not gathered for statistical purposes or subject to the same level of scrutiny as official statistics produced by Defence Statistics.
The figures may be subject to data quality issues affecting their accuracy. As JPA is a live system the data can be subject to change due to retrospective reporting and data correction.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 16 June (HL7929), whether Home Office statistics on transnational marriage abandonment include data on the number of children affected as co-victims; and if not, whether they will consider collecting such data.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Since 31 January 2024 those who find themselves a victim of domestic abuse in the form of transnational marriage abandonment (TMA) can apply for entry clearance (Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE)) under Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse to the Immigration Rules.
Data on the number of applications under the TMA route is published each quarter on gov.uk under the category ‘Settlement VDA LTE’: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/682b151450dbd3ce8372abb4/visas-status-and-immigration-data-q1-2025.ods.
The data shows there were 9 cases in 2024 Q1, 17 in Q2, 34 in Q3, 23 in Q4. For 2025, the data shows there were 12 cases in Q1 and 17 cases in Q2.
This data includes partners and any dependent children as all individuals must be granted their own entry clearance to enter the UK.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government why they are reducing the move-on period for newly recognised refugees to 28 days for most childless adults of working age before the pilot of a 56-day move-on period concludes in December; how this will affect the evaluation of that pilot; and whether they still intend to publish the findings of that evaluation.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
On 1 September, the 56 day move on pilot implemented in December 2024 was paused for all single adults in receipt of a positive asylum decision, with the exception of individuals who are pregnant, over the age of 65 or have a known/evidenced disability. This action was taken to ensure that the asylum system continues to run efficiently, and to enable us to continue taking action both to reduce the overall number of asylum hotels in different communities, and the number of people staying in them.
This pause applies to all decisions made from 1 September, anyone in receipt of a positive decision made prior to the 1st September will receive a 56-day move on period as per the pilot.
We closely monitor the impact of all our policies, including the move on period, on the number and occupancy of asylum hotels, the overall costs of the asylum accommodation estate, the wider effect on local communities, and any pressures placed on local authorities and public amenities. We remain committed to working closely with our partners to identify improvements and make efficiencies in supporting newly recognised refugees move on from asylum accommodation.
The independent evaluation of the pilot continues and is due to conclude imminently. Evaluation outcomes will be used to inform longer term policy proposals and will be shared with parliament.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the decision to reduce the move-on period for newly recognised refugees to 28 days for most childless adults of working age on (1) refugee homelessness, (2) local authorities, and (3) civil society organisations helping refugees.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
On 1 September, the 56 day move on pilot implemented in December 2024 was paused for all single adults in receipt of a positive asylum decision, with the exception of individuals who are pregnant, over the age of 65 or have a known/evidenced disability. This action was taken to ensure that the asylum system continues to run efficiently, and to enable us to continue taking action both to reduce the overall number of asylum hotels in different communities, and the number of people staying in them.
This pause applies to all decisions made from 1 September, anyone in receipt of a positive decision made prior to the 1st September will receive a 56-day move on period as per the pilot.
We closely monitor the impact of all our policies, including the move on period, on the number and occupancy of asylum hotels, the overall costs of the asylum accommodation estate, the wider effect on local communities, and any pressures placed on local authorities and public amenities. We remain committed to working closely with our partners to identify improvements and make efficiencies in supporting newly recognised refugees move on from asylum accommodation.
The independent evaluation of the pilot continues and is due to conclude imminently. Evaluation outcomes will be used to inform longer term policy proposals and will be shared with parliament.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Child Poverty Unit will continue after the publication of the child poverty strategy.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Details of post-publication arrangements for the Child Poverty Strategy, including monitoring, evaluation and governance, will be set out when the Strategy is published in the autumn.