Asked by: Lord Smith of Finsbury (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why a detainee at Colnbrook Immigration Centre was denied HIV medication.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
All immigration removal centres (IRCs) have dedicated health facilities run by doctors and nurses, which are managed by the NHS or appropriate providers, and delivered in line with the national service specifications for healthcare services in IRCs. There is also full access to the 24-hour on-site healthcare team and where appropriate, medication.
We take the health and welfare of those detained in our care very seriously. All detained individuals entering an IRC receive a healthcare screening within two hours of their arrival, which identifies any immediate or long-term healthcare risks. Unless they decline, individuals in IRCs are given an appointment with a doctor within 24 hours. Clinical pathways into other healthcare services are initiated at this point depending on the outcomes of the reception screening, including into sexual health services and specialist HIV prescribers. Those carrying prescribed medication will have their medication checked and re-issued by healthcare teams at the earliest possible opportunity. Individuals continue to have access to medical assistance, including medication, throughout their time in an IRC.
We are working closely with NHS England to ensure that HIV positive detained individuals, who refuse or frustrate access to their existing held medications, can be seen promptly by qualified HIV doctors who are able to access and prescribe without delay.
Asked by: Lord Smith of Finsbury (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish a rapid UK visa authorisation process for those Afghan citizens who worked in Kabul with former Royal Marine Commando Paul Farthing for the charity Nowzad.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Our Afghan relocation policy is one of the most generous in the world and has already supported over 7,000 directly employed former Afghan staff and their families to leave Afghanistan under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP). As we continue to significantly accelerate the pace of relocations, thousands more will follow.
The Government is rightly prioritising the evacuation of British citizens, their family members and those who qualify for the ARAP by virtue of their work directly for and with HMG. But we are also making every effort to ensure those who are at risk by virtue of their work with charitable or humanitarian organisations are able to leave Afghanistan safely.
The Home Office is committed to providing protection for vulnerable people fleeing Afghanistan. The Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme will welcome up to 5,000 vulnerable Afghans to the UK, who have been forced to flee the country, in its first year, with up to a total of 20,000 in the long-term.
Asked by: Lord Smith of Finsbury (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for Cambridge and Oxford colleges which award Junior Research Fellowships qualifying as funding bodies under the terms of the global talent visa scheme.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
On 27 January, the Government announced details of the reformed Global Talent visa, including a new fast-track scheme for top scientists, researchers and mathematicians, which would be managed by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). These changes are part of an initial phase of wider reforms to enable those with world-class specialist skills to come to the UK.
The Government will continue to work closely with the Endorsing Bodies, including UKRI, and the wider scientific community. As part of this development we will discuss whether expanding the list of qualifying fellowships is approriate.
Asked by: Lord Smith of Finsbury (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are their reasons for the exemption of the Home Office from the new data protection regulation; and what assessment they have made of the consequences of this exemption for individuals' access to their own personal data.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Bill (once given Royal Assent) will apply to the processing of all personal data by the Home Office. The Regulation and Bill, provide limited exemptions to the rights of data subjects but these may only be applied on a case-by-case basis and only where it is necessary and proportionate to do so.
We are looking to achieve an appropriate balance between individual’s rights and the wider public interest in maintaining an effective immigration system. People will still be able to request their own personal data as they can now. The rights contained in Article 15 regarding rights of access to information will be complied with wherever possible, we only seek to have the option to restrict those rights and withhold specific information from their records in cases where there is a likelihood of prejudice to our effective immigration control, for example on-going or planned enforcement activity.
All decisions will be kept under review and people will have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner. This is a Government which puts transparency at the top of our agenda.
Asked by: Lord Smith of Finsbury (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their current estimate of the cost to the Exchequer to date of those parts of Operation Yewtree where (1) the defendant has been acquitted, or (2) a decision has been taken not to proceed with any further action in relation to the defendant.
Answered by Lord Bates
The Home Office does not collect information of this kind. Like all investigations led by the police, Operation Yewtree is an operational matter – in this case for the Metropolitan Police Service.