Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by the President of the United States about the outcome of the United States Presidential Election and following the riots at the United States Capitol on 6 January, what plans they have to prohibit Donald Trump from entering the UK in future.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
All foreign nationals wishing to enter the UK must comply with UK Immigration Rules.
The Home Office does not 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 whether the section on the Northern Ireland Assembly in the Life in the United Kingdom: A guide for new residents states the correct number of Members of that Assembly; and if not, (1) when they intend to correct it, and (2) what plans they have to correct any life in the UK tests which contain questions on that number.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Life in the UK handbook publisher, TSO (The Stationery Office) Ltd, intends to publish an updated impression of the current edition of the handbook early in the new year, which will update the number of Members of the Northern Ireland assembly.
The Life in the UK test is delivered by PSI on behalf of the Home Office. The test questions are not published or disclosed in order to protect the integrity of the test process. Nobody will be disadvantaged by the need to update the text.
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 include key construction trades on the Shortage Occupation List to make it easier for migrants to apply for work visas to fill vacancies in that sector.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
In March, the Government commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to advise on the composition of the Shortage Occupation Lists (SOL) in light of the expanded skills threshold of the new Skilled Worker route, which will come into effect on 1 December.
The MAC published its findings and recommendations on 29 September. The Government welcomes the MAC’s comprehensive advice, which included a recommendation to add bricklayers and masons; however, we do not consider changes to the SOLs should be made at this time, before assessing how the UK labour market develops postCovid19 and in response to the introduction of the new Points-Based Immigration System.
As published on 22 October, the Immigration Rules for the new Points-Based Immigration System include an Appendix Shortage Occupation Lists. This replaces the existing lists under Appendix K. The contents are the same.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the introduction of Tier 2 and Tier 3 visas for workers in (1) live music venues, (2) theatres, and (3) other live performance venues.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Overseas musicians and performers make an important contribution to the UK's creative sector and remain welcome in the United Kingdom.
We have set out plans to introduce a future points-based immigration system, which together with our generous existing routes for visiting artists, entertainers and musicians, will continue to provide both a short-term and long-term route for workers within the creative sector, suited to their individual needs.
The Home Office continues to engage with the creative sector to ensure the future points-based immigration system will enable the UK’s cultural life to thrive.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with the governments of (1) Moldova, (2) Morocco, and (3) Papua New Guinea, about their suitability as UK asylum processing centres; whether each of these governments has indicated their willingness to agree to the establishment of a UK asylum processing centre; and what estimate they have made of the cost per asylum seeker of establishing and maintaining such a centre in each location.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The UK has a long and proud history of providing protection to those who need it, in accordance with our international obligations. Tens of thousands of people have rebuilt their lives in the UK and we will continue to provide safe and legal routes for the vulnerable to do so in the future.
Meanwhile, we have seen unprecedented numbers of journeys to the UK by small boat in 2020, which are both dangerous and facilitated by criminals, and so we are determined to render these journeys unviable.
The Department has been developing plans to reform our illegal migration and asylum policies to ensure we are able to provide protection to those who need it whilst preventing abuse of the system and the criminality associated with it. As part of this, we have explored likeminded states’ responses to similar situations in order to consider the various options that exist for deterring people from undertaking these dangerous journeys, exploring a range of options, including those that have been employed by other countries in similar situations. No decisions have been made by Ministers and we continue to work to find the right approach for the UK.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) Steepholme, (2) Flatholme, (3) Canvey Island, (4) the Isle of Dogs, and, (5) Sark, as potential locations for asylum processing centres.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Illegal migration has been a complex issue for successive governments. For years people have risked their lives to enter our country illegally, like those crossing the Channel in dangerous small boats.
The Home Office will introduce a new system that is firm and fair, prosecuting criminals while protecting vulnerable individuals.
Officials have been looking at a whole host of measures other countries deploy to inform a plan for the UK and bring innovation into our system. As part of this they are consulting with stakeholders and ensuring those plans adhere to our Policy Assurance Framework, but no final proposals have been made and it would not be appropriate to comment on speculation.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they are planning to celebrate Windrush Day on 22 June; how the Immigration Bill will assist in dismantling the ‘hostile environment’ towards immigrants; and whether the Bill is designed to restore the UK’s reputation as a welcoming and friendly international nation.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Government remains committed to ensuring that 22 June is a day of celebration and recognition for the Windrush generation and their descendants. 2020 saw the second provision of an annual £500,000 grant to support celebrations on 22 June as well as longer term projects to ensure a lasting legacy for the Windrush generation. Earlier in the year, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government approved funding to be allocated among 49 charities, community groups and local authorities. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, officials worked with grantees to deliver their project outcomes through online or virtual means to coincide with Windrush Day, and by postponing some delivery until later in the year where necessary.
The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) also worked with community stakeholders to mark Windrush Day appropriately online and in the media.
The Government is committed to a firm, fair and humane immigration policy which welcomes and celebrates those here lawfully, deters individuals from placing themselves at risk of harm and exploitation in the hands of people smugglers and protects the taxpayer.
In common with other comparable countries, the UK has in place a framework of laws, policies and administrative arrangements, introduced under successive governments ensuring access to work benefits and services is permitted for those with the right access to them.
The Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill is primarily focused on ending the EU’s rules on free movement of persons following the UK’s exit from the EU. It does not deal with general immigration matters.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the (1) target, and (2) anticipated, processing time for those applying for indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The normal service standard for applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain applications is six months. Immigrations case-working operations have been impacted by COVID-19 and we have continued to make decisions where we have been able to. The re-opening of case-working offices has commenced, and all teams are committed to decide applications as quickly as possible.
Information on processing times for visa applications is published as part of the Migration Transparency data, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the process for applying for indefinite leave to remain in the UK; and what plans they have, if any, to ensure that the process for applying for such leave is adapted to reflect any such disruption.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Home Office is committed to ensuring that all applications are considered without unnecessary delay. Immigration case-working operations have been impacted by COVID-19, with most locations going into lockdown at the end of March, although we have continued to make decisions where we have been able to.
As UK Visas and Immigration has now reopened the majority of its Visa Application Centres both in the UK and overseas, we are working closely with our partners to maximise the available capacity to service applicants in line with social distancing rules in each location.
The Home Office has put in place a range of measures to support those affected by the covid-19 outbreak to ensure people are not unduly affected by circumstances beyond their control.