Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have received in the past 12 months to add occupations to the Skilled Workers Shortage Occupation List.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
His Majesty’s Government regularly engages with all sectors about the UK immigration system, which includes the Shortage Occupation List.
The Migration Advisory Committee recently opened their call for evidence for their review of the Shortage Occupation and we would encourage businesses and sector bodies to contribute.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many asylum seekers from Hong Kong have been waiting for their case to be processed for longer than (1) six months, (2) one year, and (3) 18 months.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
As of 10/03/2023, there are 52 Asylum Seekers in the Asylum Support Scheme with a Hong Kong nationality out of a total 108,700 Asylum Seekers. 22 of these 52 are currently in temporary accommodation.
All service users are entitled to access Wi-Fi wherever it is available with no restrictions placed on them accessing these services by the Home Office.
In 2022, 17 initial decisions were made on applications from Hong Kong nationals, 4 initial decisions were made on applications from Ukrainian nationals and 1,842 initial decisions were made on applications from Afghanistan nationals.
As at 31 Dec 2022, 115 Hong Kong nationals had been awaiting an initial decision for more than 6 months while 11 had been waiting 6 months or less (main applicants only). Please note that any further breakdowns in wait time are not published.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many asylum applications were processed from individuals from (1) Hong Kong, (2) Ukraine, and (3) Afghanistan, in the past 12 months.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
As of 10/03/2023, there are 52 Asylum Seekers in the Asylum Support Scheme with a Hong Kong nationality out of a total 108,700 Asylum Seekers. 22 of these 52 are currently in temporary accommodation.
All service users are entitled to access Wi-Fi wherever it is available with no restrictions placed on them accessing these services by the Home Office.
In 2022, 17 initial decisions were made on applications from Hong Kong nationals, 4 initial decisions were made on applications from Ukrainian nationals and 1,842 initial decisions were made on applications from Afghanistan nationals.
As at 31 Dec 2022, 115 Hong Kong nationals had been awaiting an initial decision for more than 6 months while 11 had been waiting 6 months or less (main applicants only). Please note that any further breakdowns in wait time are not published.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of Hong Kong asylum seekers are in temporary accommodation; and what proportion of those have no access to Wi-Fi.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
As of 10/03/2023, there are 52 Asylum Seekers in the Asylum Support Scheme with a Hong Kong nationality out of a total 108,700 Asylum Seekers. 22 of these 52 are currently in temporary accommodation.
All service users are entitled to access Wi-Fi wherever it is available with no restrictions placed on them accessing these services by the Home Office.
In 2022, 17 initial decisions were made on applications from Hong Kong nationals, 4 initial decisions were made on applications from Ukrainian nationals and 1,842 initial decisions were made on applications from Afghanistan nationals.
As at 31 Dec 2022, 115 Hong Kong nationals had been awaiting an initial decision for more than 6 months while 11 had been waiting 6 months or less (main applicants only). Please note that any further breakdowns in wait time are not published.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to place the Fulford Principles relating to the detention and interviewing of detainees overseas on a statutory basis.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Government has no plans to place The Principles on a statutory basis.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to refer the case of Jagtar Singh Johal to the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament, under the provisions of the Justice and Security Act 2013.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
His Majesty’s Government has no plans to refer the case of Jagtar Singh Johal to the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament.
Under section 2(3)(b) of the Justice and Security Act 2013, the Prime Minister may ask the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament to consider a matter outside of the Committee’s self-determined work plan, provided that the consideration of the matter is consistent with any principles set out in, or with any other provision made by, the agreed Memorandum of Understanding, as per section 2(4) of the Act. One such principle in the MoU is that careful consideration must be given to whether it is appropriate to investigate a matter which relates to criminal or civil legal proceedings, inquiries, or inquest proceedings.
As the subject of ongoing legal proceedings, it would not be appropriate to comment on the allegations brought against His Majesty's Government by Mr Johal. However, His Majesty's Government has consistently raised concerns about Mr Johal’s case in India with all levels of the Indian Government. Ministers and officials have together raised Mr Johal’s detention on over 100 occasions since 2017, and they will continue to do so.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given, if any, to reforming the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
His Majesty’s Government welcomes the independent and robust oversight of the UK Intelligence Community that the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament provides.
The role and remit of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament is set out in the Justice and Security Act 2013 and accompanying Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the Committee and the Prime Minister. The Government considers the current arrangements set out in the Act and related MOU sufficient to enable the Committee to discharge its statutory function in respect of the oversight of the Security and Intelligence Agencies and the wider Intelligence Community.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Penn on 28 March (HL7077), whether they will describe the risks that they have assessed regarding their decision not to publish the Asset Purchase Facility deed indemnity; and which of these risks would “not advance the public’s understanding" of the arrangement by which HM Treasury indemnifies the Asset Purchase Facility.
Answered by Baroness Penn - Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
The Asset Purchase Facility (APF) deed indemnity will not be published. The disclosure of the APF deed indemnity would be likely to expose sensitive information relating to the quantitative easing scheme and related processes.
HM Treasury indemnifies the APF which means that any losses or gains from the APF accrue to HM Treasury. This is public knowledge and the publication of the deed of indemnity will not advance the public’s understanding of that arrangement.
The Bank of England publishes quarterly reports for the APF, which explain to the public the implications of indemnity for the Treasury and the cash transfer arrangements between the Bank and Treasury.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what formal discussions they have had with (1) the Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament, and (2) the Committee as a whole, since June 2016.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
His Majesty's Government regularly engages with the Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament, and with the Committee as a whole. Details of formal interactions with the Government are published in the Committee's Annual Reports, which are publicly available on the Committee's website.
The Government values the work of the Committee, and understands the importance of regular engagement as part of an effective oversight relationship.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they have given to immunocompromised individuals who are still shielding from COVID-19.
Answered by Lord Kamall
The shielding programme ended on 15 September 2021. The COVID-19 vaccination programme has ensured that shielding is no longer necessary for immunosuppressed people. In addition, the Government has issued public health advice in an online only format for those whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious outcomes from COVID-19. This advises eligible individuals to ensure they receive additional doses of the vaccines as appropriate.
Many people in this cohort are also eligible for new monoclonal antibody and antiviral treatments to prevent the risk of serious illness and hospitalisation. The advice also suggests that those who are immunosuppressed should seek advice from their National Health Service clinician where appropriate and consider additional steps to prevent the risk of infection. This may include avoiding those who have tested positive for COVID-19 and their household contacts until 10 days after a positive test and ensuring their home is well ventilated when receiving visitors.