Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how may Russian citizens designated under any Russia-related international sanctions regime imposed following Russia's annexation of Crimea in March 2014 have held Tier 1 (Investor) visas.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
We do not comment on national security matters, nor do we comment on individual cases.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Russian citizens designated under any UK sanctions regime since Russia annexed Crimea in March 2014 have held Tier 1 (Investor) visas.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
We do not comment on national security matters, nor do we comment on individual cases.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) resources, and (2) processes, they have in place to conduct due diligence on visa applications in relation to (a) national security, and (b) illicit finance, risks.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Home Office and wider law enforcement have resources and processes in place to ensure that the UK offers no safe space for illicit finance, nor individuals who seek to undermine UK national security. Security checks are undertaken as part of all visa applications.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government under what circumstances police officers are permitted to be in possession of (1) PAVA spray, and (2) TASER, when they are off duty.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Decisions around the equipping of officers are operational matters for Chief Constables.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to impose a limit on the number of refugees arriving in the UK from Ukraine due to Russia's invasion of that country; and what support they plan to provide to any such refugees.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Government has set no limit on the number of Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion who can come to the UK.
In response to the invasion, the Government has set up the Ukraine Family Scheme and the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.
There is no limit to the number of individuals who can come to the UK via the Ukraine Family Scheme, provided they are eligible, and no limit to the number of Ukrainians who can come to the UK having secured a sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Russian nationals granted Investor (Tier 1) visas since 2008 have been found to pose a national security risk.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
We do not comment on national security matters.
Whilst the sanctions list is published, we do not routinely comment on the immigration status of individuals.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to name the eight Russian citizens who have been granted Investor (Tier 1) visas who are now subject to sanctions.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
We do not comment on national security matters.
Whilst the sanctions list is published, we do not routinely comment on the immigration status of individuals.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Russian citizens who have been granted Tier 1 (Investor) visas are subject to sanctions following Russia's invasion of parts of Ukraine.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Home Office publishes data on entry clearance visas in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of applications from Investor visas (previously Tier 1) to Russian nationals, and the decisions on such applications are published in tables ‘Vis_D01’ and ‘Vis_D02’ of the entry clearance detailed datasets. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook.
The latest data includes up to the end of 2021.
Please note that the published data relate to Russian nationals, regardless of their residency. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.
As of 18th March 2022 a total of 8 Russian nationals subject to UK sanctions in connection to the invasion of Ukraine have been identified as holding or having held leave as a Tier 1 (investor) migrant or as a Tier 1 (investor) migrant dependent.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Tier 1 (Investor) visas have been issued to Russian citizens.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Home Office publishes data on entry clearance visas in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of applications from Investor visas (previously Tier 1) to Russian nationals, and the decisions on such applications are published in tables ‘Vis_D01’ and ‘Vis_D02’ of the entry clearance detailed datasets. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook.
The latest data includes up to the end of 2021.
Please note that the published data relate to Russian nationals, regardless of their residency. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.
As of 18th March 2022 a total of 8 Russian nationals subject to UK sanctions in connection to the invasion of Ukraine have been identified as holding or having held leave as a Tier 1 (investor) migrant or as a Tier 1 (investor) migrant dependent.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce national minimum conditions for any unlicensed sexual entertainment provided in accordance with exemption available under paragraph 2A (3) (b) of Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Local authorities have powers to control the number and location of lap dancing clubs and similar venues in their area. These powers are not mandatory and only apply where they are adopted by Local Authorities.
Where adopted, these provisions allow local authorities to refuse an application on potentially wider grounds than is permitted under the Licensing Act 2003 and give local people a greater say over the regulation of lap dancing clubs and similar venues in their area.
Under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 Act, Local Authorities can consider whether granting a licence for a lap dancing club would be appropriate, having regard to the character of the area and the use to which other premises in the vicinity are put. For example, a Local Authority may decide that it would be inappropriate to grant a licence for a lap dancing club in a residential area or next door to a school. This arrangement allows Local Authorities to take the most appropriate approach for their local area, ensuring that local people are able to contribute to the development of their community.
Protecting those involved in prostitution and sex work from harm is also a strand of our wider work to eradicate violence against women and girls (VAWG). In 2019 the police updated the National Policing Sex Work and Prostitution Guidance – this makes clear that the safety of people engaged in sex work must be paramount to the police service. Since 2016, the Government has provided over £2 million to specialist organisations supporting those involved in sex work and prostitution.