Asked by: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which levels of study the Future opportunity Market testing for Home Office English Language Testing (HOELT) services, notice reference: 2024/S 000-027422, published on 28 August 2024, applies to.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The new service will cover the policies in place across all visa routes where there is a requirement for language ability to be tested as part of the visa application process.
Asked by: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of creating a visa scheme for disabled Palestinians to access treatment in the UK.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is determined to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and rapidly increase aid, ensuring humanitarian support is reaching people there.
There are existing provisions that allow Palestinians to come to the UK for Private Medical Treatment under the Immigration Rules. Where a relevant application is made consideration will be given to exceptional circumstances or where there are compelling or compassionate grounds.
It should be noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) position is that people who are medically evacuated should stay as close to home as possible, so that they remain amongst those who are more likely to understand their language and culture, and so that their return home, when ready, is easier.
Asked by: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will she create a specific visa scheme for seriously injured Palestinians to access treatment in the UK.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is determined to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and rapidly increase aid, ensuring humanitarian support is reaching people there.
There are existing provisions that allow Palestinians to come to the UK for Private Medical Treatment under the Immigration Rules. Where a relevant application is made consideration will be given to exceptional circumstances or where there are compelling or compassionate grounds.
It should be noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) position is that people who are medically evacuated should stay as close to home as possible, so that they remain amongst those who are more likely to understand their language and culture, and so that their return home, when ready, is easier.
Asked by: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will remove international students from net migration targets.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Net migration statistics are produced by the independent Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Asked by: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the report by the Migration Advisory Committee entitled Graduate route: rapid review, published on 14 May 2024, on her Department's policies relating to international students.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Home Secretary set out in her written statement of the 30 July 2024, the Government will continue with the measures announced by the previous government on 23 May in response to the Migration Advisory Committee review of the Graduate route.
The Government values the economic and academic contribution that international students make to this country, including those here on the Graduate route, and that is why it is important to ensure that the system is effective and not open to abuse.
Asked by: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to allow asylum seekers who have not received a decision on their claim for asylum within 6 months to work.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Asylum seekers who have had their claim outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own, can apply for permission to work. Those permitted to work are restricted to jobs on the Immigration Salary List. This list is based on expert advice from the independent Migration Advisory Committee. There are no current plans to change this.
Asked by: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support asylum seekers who are waiting for a decision on an asylum claim.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Asylum support and accommodation is available for asylum seekers awaiting a decision on their claim (including any dependants) who would otherwise be destitute.
Further information about support asylum seekers may be entitled to can be found at Asylum support: What you'll get - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Asked by: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to repeal Part III of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Sections 73, 74 and 79 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (PCSC Act 2022) are currently being reviewed by the Government in line with commitments made in Parliament when the Act was passed. In addition, the Act itself will be subject to post-legislative parliamentary scrutiny between 3 and 5 years after Royal Assent, i.e., between April 2025 and April 2027.
Asked by: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to strengthen the right to peaceful protest.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Peaceful protest is a vital part of our democratic society, which must be protected. The Government keeps all relevant legislation under regular review.
Asked by: Abtisam Mohamed (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to protect the right to peaceful protest.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
This Government is committed to protecting and preserving the fundamental rights to freedom of assembly and expression because peaceful protest is a vital part of our democratic society.
The Government committed to undertake expedited post-legislative scrutiny on all aspects of the Public Order Act 2023 next year. That review will also consider the Public Order Act 1986 (Serious Disruption to the Life of the Community) Regulations 2023.