Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 14 May (HL3508), what are the specific exemptions the Civil Aviation Authority have granted to the Emergency Services, including the police; and from which particular requirements in the Air Navigation Order 2016 those agencies are so exempted.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The use of drones is regulated by the Air Navigation Order (ANO) 2016.
In July 2017 the CAA issued an exemption to the emergency services to allow for greater flexibility in the operation of drones in the event of an immediate risk to life or a critical incident; subject to certain safeguards.
The exemption relates to Article 94(3) – operation of a drone within visual line of sight.
Article 95 - operation within minimum distances from congested areas, people, vessels, vehicles and structures.
These exemptions are subject to additional safeguards set out by the CAA and remain valid.
On the 27th of March 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic the CAA issued an exemption to the ANO allowing emergency services to operate drones more flexibly to enforce lockdown requirements. These exemptions related to:
Article 94(3) – requires that the operation of a drone is done within visual line of sight;
Article 95 - operation within minimum distances from congested areas, people, vessels, vehicles and structures; the exemption reduces the distance from 50m to 10 or 20 dependent on the weight of the drone.
Article 94A(2)- relating to the maximum height at which drones are allowed to operate, the exemption increased the distance from 400ft to 600ft. On the 8th of April this height was reduced from 600ft to 500ft due to an increase in general helicopter activity.
These exemptions were subject to additional safeguards such as the need for an operational observer and to maintain the UA in visual line of sight at all times.
The Covid-19 exemptions have now been revoked due to the return of regular aviation activity.
Subject to meeting the requirements within the ANO and any applicable exemptions issued by the CAA, it is an operational matter for police forces to decide how to deploy drones.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to make Wi-Fi available for people living in all forms of asylum accommodation so that they can contact essential mental health support services, currently only offered online, during the COVID-19 pandemic without having to spend any portion of their £37.50 weekly allowance on such data.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Asylum seekers receiving support under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 199 are generally provided with accommodation and a cash allowance to cover other essential living needs. The level of the cash allowance provided take into account communication needs, including the cost of buying and using a mobile phone. As a result of the Covid-19 crisis a higher proportion of asylum seekers than usual are being accommodated in full-board hostels and hotels. We are looking at practical ways of providing internet access to this group and other ways to enable them to communicate effectively.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what powers have been granted to (1) police, and (2) other bodies, for the use of drones and other surveillance technology in order to enforce their responsibilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020, introduced on 26 March, gave the police the powers they need to ensure compliance with essential measures on social distancing.
Decisions to use drones and in which circumstances are operational matters for police forces who are subject to the requirements of the Air Navigation Order and Data Protection legislation when operating drones.
The Civil Aviation Authority have granted the Emergency Services, including the police, an exemption from some of the requirements in the Air Navigation Order 2016 to support the enforcement of Government COVID-19 restrictions.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to (1) increase asylum support rates in line with Universal Credit, and (2) provide further support to asylum seekers to assist with essential living requirements, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
We are currently reviewing the level of the cash allowances, as we do each year, to ensure that they remain capable of meeting the essential living needs of asylum seekers. There are no plans to increase the level of the cash allowances to Universal Credit levels.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with (1) the British Red Cross, (2) the Refugee Council, (3) the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and (4) any other relevant organisations, about how best to enhance the safety and wellbeing of (a) child refugees, and (b) asylum seekers; and whether any such discussions include consideration of the possible benefits of family reunion to such safety and wellbeing.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Home Office engage with a range of external organisations to discuss the support and care provided to unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee children. This includes regular discussions with NGOs about a number of issues that affect unaccompanied children who are in the UK.
Our current refugee family reunion policy does not allow child refugees to sponsor their parents. The Government’s view is that if children could sponsor parents, it would risk creating incentives for more children to be encouraged, or even forced, to leave their family and risk hazardous journeys to the UK. This plays into the hands of criminal gangs who exploit vulnerable people and goes against our safeguarding responsibilities.