Asked by: Lord Turnberg (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect Falun Gong practitioners from persecution in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is committed to promoting and protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief, this includes protecting the rights of Falun Gong Practitioners.
We continually assess potential threats in the UK, and take protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK very seriously. Any attempt by any foreign state to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the UK will not be tolerated.
Where individuals have concerns for their safety, they should report incidents or suspicious activity to the Police via 101, a local police station, or 999 in emergencies.
Asked by: Lord Turnberg (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have made of easing spousal visa restrictions for senior scientists wishing to immigrate to the UK.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
On 10 June the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) published their independent review of the financial requirements across the family routes. The report is now under review, and we will respond in due course.
Asked by: Lord Turnberg (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage the immigration of scientists from other countries, including the United States, to the UK.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK has a world-leading science base, supported by four universities in the global top 10 and outstanding research institutions, we are committed to attracting the best international talent.
We have recently announced a new £54 million Global Talent Fund to attract top individuals – lead researchers and their teams – to the UK this financial year. This is just one part of over £115 million in funding dedicated to attracting top talent to the UK.
The Government is also committed to a competitive visa system, including simplified access to the Global Talent visa and expanded fast-track routes. These measures aim to attract exceptional individuals to supercharge growth in the UK’s strategic industries.