Asked by: Lord Pickles (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to assess whether students arriving in the United Kingdom from Gaza have expressed support for Hamas or any other proscribed organisation operating in the Gaza Strip.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
All visa applicants are required to provide their biographic and biometric data to enable a range of security checks to be completed, including criminality checks.
Robust security checks are being undertaken on all individuals who enter the UK through the process to support eligible students to exit Gaza. Biometrics are collected as part of the visa application process and prior to travel to the UK.
The Home Office uses various tools to detect and disrupt travel by terrorists, by criminals and by individuals excluded from the UK; previously deported from the UK; or using lost, stolen or revoked documents and visas. This includes the use of domestic and international watchlists. The Home Office works with both law enforcement and wider government partners to ensure appropriate action is taken before travel or at the border when individuals of concern are identified. It would not be appropriate to provide further information about the nature and scope of security checks.