Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of automatically (a) enrolling in the EU Settlement Scheme or (b) granting citizenship to children under 18 who were born in the UK to parents from European member states.
Answered by Kevin Foster
In line with the Citizens’ Rights Agreements, there remains scope, indefinitely, for a person eligible for status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) to make a late application to the scheme where there are reasonable grounds for their failure to meet the deadline applicable to them.
The Home Office published non-exhaustive guidance on 1 April 2021 on what
may constitute such reasonable grounds, to underpin a flexible and pragmatic
approach to considering late applications to the EUSS in light of the
circumstances of each case. The guidance refers, as an example of reasonable grounds, to where a parent, guardian or Local Authority has failed to apply on behalf of a child by the relevant deadline. The relevant guidance is now available at pages 32 to 50 here:
EU Settlement Scheme EU, other EEA, Swiss citizens and family members (publishing.service.gov.uk)
There are no plans to implement automatic enrolment to the EUSS for children under 18 who were born in the UK to parents from European Union member states. It is important all those eligible for the EUSS obtain the individual status under the scheme and the secure evidence of this which they will need to prove their rights in the UK for years to come, such a provision could also conflict with nationality law as a child born in the UK to an EU citizen will automatically be a British citizen if one of their parents was settled in the UK, for example by holding Settled Status under the EUSS, at the time of their birth.
In addition, a child of an EU citizen has an entitlement to registration as a British citizen if the parent becomes settled after the child’s birth. The Home Office also introduced Regulations earlier this year to ensure a specific group of children, born between the end of the grace period on 30 June 2021 and their parent being granted settled status under the EUSS, will automatically be a British citizen. However, the basic position described above is the same for all children born in the UK: we do not intend to create a separate route to British citizenship for the children of EU citizens.
The Home Office continues to work closely with Local Authorities to monitor their progress in making applications to the EUSS on behalf of looked after children and care leavers and to ensure the EUSS remains a high priority in their work with that group. The latest survey indicates that, as of 30 November 2021, for children for whom the Local Authority has parental responsibility, 96% of those identified as eligible for the EUSS had so far had an application to the scheme made for them by the Local Authority. The full survey can be found at:
To ensure information and assistance gets through to those who are hardest to reach, and no one is left behind, the Home Office has provided £25 million in grant funding through to 31 March 2022 to a network of 72 organisations across the UK, which includes local authorities and local government associations, working to help vulnerable people apply to the EUSS.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what advice is given to local authorities with regards to children in care who are eligible EU citizens who have not applied to the EU settlement scheme for the right to remain in the UK.
Answered by Kevin Foster
In line with the Citizens’ Rights Agreements, there remains scope, indefinitely, for a person eligible for status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) to make a late application to the scheme where there are reasonable grounds for their failure to meet the deadline applicable to them.
The Home Office published non-exhaustive guidance on 1 April 2021 on what
may constitute such reasonable grounds, to underpin a flexible and pragmatic
approach to considering late applications to the EUSS in light of the
circumstances of each case. The guidance refers, as an example of reasonable grounds, to where a parent, guardian or Local Authority has failed to apply on behalf of a child by the relevant deadline. The relevant guidance is now available at pages 32 to 50 here:
EU Settlement Scheme EU, other EEA, Swiss citizens and family members (publishing.service.gov.uk)
There are no plans to implement automatic enrolment to the EUSS for children under 18 who were born in the UK to parents from European Union member states. It is important all those eligible for the EUSS obtain the individual status under the scheme and the secure evidence of this which they will need to prove their rights in the UK for years to come, such a provision could also conflict with nationality law as a child born in the UK to an EU citizen will automatically be a British citizen if one of their parents was settled in the UK, for example by holding Settled Status under the EUSS, at the time of their birth.
In addition, a child of an EU citizen has an entitlement to registration as a British citizen if the parent becomes settled after the child’s birth. The Home Office also introduced Regulations earlier this year to ensure a specific group of children, born between the end of the grace period on 30 June 2021 and their parent being granted settled status under the EUSS, will automatically be a British citizen. However, the basic position described above is the same for all children born in the UK: we do not intend to create a separate route to British citizenship for the children of EU citizens.
The Home Office continues to work closely with Local Authorities to monitor their progress in making applications to the EUSS on behalf of looked after children and care leavers and to ensure the EUSS remains a high priority in their work with that group. The latest survey indicates that, as of 30 November 2021, for children for whom the Local Authority has parental responsibility, 96% of those identified as eligible for the EUSS had so far had an application to the scheme made for them by the Local Authority. The full survey can be found at:
To ensure information and assistance gets through to those who are hardest to reach, and no one is left behind, the Home Office has provided £25 million in grant funding through to 31 March 2022 to a network of 72 organisations across the UK, which includes local authorities and local government associations, working to help vulnerable people apply to the EUSS.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the long-term impact on eligible EU citizens living in the UK who did not apply for EU settlement scheme from 1 July 2021.
Answered by Kevin Foster
In line with the Citizens’ Rights Agreements, there remains scope, indefinitely, for a person eligible for status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) to make a late application to the scheme where there are reasonable grounds for their failure to meet the deadline applicable to them.
The Home Office published non-exhaustive guidance on 1 April 2021 on what
may constitute such reasonable grounds, to underpin a flexible and pragmatic
approach to considering late applications to the EUSS in light of the
circumstances of each case. The guidance refers, as an example of reasonable grounds, to where a parent, guardian or Local Authority has failed to apply on behalf of a child by the relevant deadline. The relevant guidance is now available at pages 32 to 50 here:
EU Settlement Scheme EU, other EEA, Swiss citizens and family members (publishing.service.gov.uk)
There are no plans to implement automatic enrolment to the EUSS for children under 18 who were born in the UK to parents from European Union member states. It is important all those eligible for the EUSS obtain the individual status under the scheme and the secure evidence of this which they will need to prove their rights in the UK for years to come, such a provision could also conflict with nationality law as a child born in the UK to an EU citizen will automatically be a British citizen if one of their parents was settled in the UK, for example by holding Settled Status under the EUSS, at the time of their birth.
In addition, a child of an EU citizen has an entitlement to registration as a British citizen if the parent becomes settled after the child’s birth. The Home Office also introduced Regulations earlier this year to ensure a specific group of children, born between the end of the grace period on 30 June 2021 and their parent being granted settled status under the EUSS, will automatically be a British citizen. However, the basic position described above is the same for all children born in the UK: we do not intend to create a separate route to British citizenship for the children of EU citizens.
The Home Office continues to work closely with Local Authorities to monitor their progress in making applications to the EUSS on behalf of looked after children and care leavers and to ensure the EUSS remains a high priority in their work with that group. The latest survey indicates that, as of 30 November 2021, for children for whom the Local Authority has parental responsibility, 96% of those identified as eligible for the EUSS had so far had an application to the scheme made for them by the Local Authority. The full survey can be found at:
To ensure information and assistance gets through to those who are hardest to reach, and no one is left behind, the Home Office has provided £25 million in grant funding through to 31 March 2022 to a network of 72 organisations across the UK, which includes local authorities and local government associations, working to help vulnerable people apply to the EUSS.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will ensure that all queries raised by hon. Members on behalf of constituents and families in Afghanistan will receive a personal response.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Given the very difficult circumstances in Afghanistan, we cannot pursue cases concerning Afghan people in country in the usual ways.
Please therefore signpost individuals to gov.uk to check for the latest information about Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy: further information on eligibility criteria and offer details - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) (Afghan citizens’ resettlement scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)) rather than seek to pursue cases on their behalf.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons the Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme is not yet live.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The first to be resettled through the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) will be those who arrived in the UK under the evacuation programme, which included individuals who were considered to be at particular risk – including women’s rights activists, prosecutors and journalists.
The ACRS is not yet open. Officials are working urgently to stand up the remaining elements of the scheme, amid the complex and changing picture.
The Government will continue to work closely with other government departments, non-governmental organisations, charities, local authorities and other partners and relevant organisations in the development and implementation of the ACRS.
Further information on the eligibility, prioritisation and referral of people for the ACRS is set out in the policy statement published on gov.uk on 13 September, available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of recording data on crimes involving (a) acid and (b) corrosive fluid.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
We have put in place an Annual Data Requirement on police forces to collect data on corrosive attacks. Data is published annually as part of the Office for National Statistics’ crime statistics. The latest data available which is for the year ending March 2020 showed that the police recorded 619 violence against the person and robbery offences involving corrosive substances (figures exclude offences for Greater Manchester Police). It is not possible to breakdown the offences between those which involved the use of acid and those which involved other corrosive substances. We expect that data for the year ending March 2021 will be published on 22 July.
The Government is working closely with the police to ensure that they are able to take effective action to tackle and prevent acid or corrosive attacks. We have also strengthened the law on corrosives through the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 with legislative measures specifically stopping the sale and delivery of acid and corrosive substances to under 18s and making it an offence to possess acid or a corrosive substance in public. We expect to commence these measures later this year.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to engage women's groups in discussions with her Department on measures preventing (a) gender-based violence and (b) domestic violence.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Tackling gender-based violence and domestic violence is a key priority for this government. This April we passed our landmark Domestic Abuse Act which will strengthen our response to perpetrators and importantly provide greater protection to victims of this heinous crime.
This year we will also be publishing two complementary strategies to further transform the government’s response to combating Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Domestic Abuse (DA). To inform our approach we have delivered a robust and wide-reaching VAWG Call for Evidence which received approximately 180,000 responses, including from victims, the public, academics and victim support services and organisations representing women’s groups on VAWG and DA.
We meet regularly with organisations that support survivors to discuss our approach to the VAWG and DA strategies, and will continue to engage with their work and how we can work together, as well as with women’s, girls’ and victims’ organisations on this important work, including several sector-wide sessions in the previous months, individual calls with leading VAWG organisations, and participation in the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s regular sector calls.
We will continue this engagement as we seek to implement our ground-breaking Domestic Abuse Act, and as we finalise our complementary strategies for tacking VAWG and DA.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to incorporate women's groups into discussions with her Department on measures preventing (a) gender-based violence and (b) domestic violence.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Dissolution.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of decriminalising the possession of (a) pepper spray and (b) non-lethal self-defence weapons on safety for women.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Pepper sprays are currently prohibited by law and we have no plans to change this. It has been the view of successive governments that the possession of items such as pepper sprays for personal protection is likely to lead to an increase in levels of violence as they could be used against the owners to incapacitate them, with serious consequences.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers her Department sent to live in Preston in each month of (a) 2019, (b) 2020 and (c) 2021.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The latest published Immigration Statistics detail the number of asylum seekers accommodated in each local authority area. These statistics can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets#asylum-support
Data is published on a quarterly basis, with the latest information published 25 February 2021.
The Home Office does not publish a breakdown of these statistics which disaggregates the number of asylum seekers accommodated in dispersal accommodation for the first time in each quarter in each of the last two years, by local authority. These figures are not available in a reportable format and to provide the information could only be done at disproportionate cost.