Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to Answer of 2 April 2025 to Question 41188 on Crossbows, what her Department's planned timetable is for publishing the (a) Government's response to that consultation and (b) steps the Government plans to take in relation to crossbow regulation.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 April, Official Report Volume 766, column 26 and 27. The Government will shortly publish our response to that call for evidence and this will set out the next steps we intend to take.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of waiving the written aspect of the English Language Test requirement for the Skilled Worker Visa where the role is manual.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The English language requirements for the Skilled Worker visa route are not only concerned with the level of English needed to do the job; they are fundamental to successful integration into British society, helping migrants to participate in community, life and work.
In its 2022 annual report, the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) emphasised the importance of the English language in helping workers understand their rights and protect themselves against exploitation. The MAC strongly recommend against lowering or removing the English language requirement.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department has issued on whether transport carriers can accept (a) an expired British passport and (b) other evidence of British citizenship as proof of exemption from the electronic travel authorisation requirement.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We recommend that all dual nationals travel on a valid British or Irish citizen passport (or Irish passport card) or with a passport containing a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode to minimise any potential delay during their journey; or at the border.
Carriers bringing passengers to the UK routinely carry out checks to ensure passengers hold genuine, valid documents, so, it is likely that passengers seeking to rely on an expired passport to establish a permission to travel may be delayed or even denied travel.
British and Irish citizens do not need an ETA to enter the UK and should not apply for one.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether dual citizens with British or Irish nationality are required to apply for electronic travel authorisation to travel to the UK in instances where their British or Irish passport has expired.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We recommend that all dual nationals travel on a valid British or Irish citizen passport (or Irish passport card) or with a passport containing a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode to minimise any potential delay during their journey; or at the border.
Carriers bringing passengers to the UK routinely carry out checks to ensure passengers hold genuine, valid documents, so, it is likely that passengers seeking to rely on an expired passport to establish a permission to travel may be delayed or even denied travel.
British and Irish citizens do not need an ETA to enter the UK and should not apply for one.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a (a) hotline for reporting and (b) focus group on (i) politically motivated assaults and (ii) transnational repression.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Where individuals have concerns for their safety, they are advised to contact their local police in the first instance. In the event that a person believes they are subject to an imminent threat, they should call 999.
The National Security Act 2023 strengthens our legal powers to counter foreign interference, and provides the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter, detect, and disrupt modern-day state threats. The police are raising awareness and capabilities of frontline officers and staff across the UK, including their understanding of the threats that foreign powers present and how to respond appropriately to reports from members of the public.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure translators used by police forces are impartial.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Police are operationally independent so this is not a matter for the Home Office.
The National Police Language Services (NPLS) team oversees the procurement and provision of language and interpretation services for police forces across the UK .National Police Language Services (NPLS) | Police.uk (www.police.uk)
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure sponsor licenses are processed within the service standards timeframes.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
All fully completed, straightforward sponsor licence applications are currently being considered within the service standard timeframes.
Only a small number of applications remain outside the service level agreement in cases where further information is required to support their application or where we are awaiting the outcome of a visit to the applicant’s premises.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing a reporting system for transnational repression.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Where individuals have concerns for their safety, they are advised to contact their local police in the first instance. In the event that a person believes they are subject to an imminent threat, they should call 999.
The National Security Act 2023 strengthens our legal powers to counter foreign interference, and provides the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter, detect, and disrupt modern-day state threats. The police are raising awareness and capabilities of frontline officers and staff across the UK, including their understanding of the threats that foreign powers present and how to respond appropriately to reports from members of the public.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to review training provisions for UK Border Force officers for entry into the UK for non-UK (a) artists, (b) sponsors and (c) creatives.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Border Force officers are trained to the highest of standards to be able to carry out their role to enforce immigration policy at the border.
Throughout that training, officers are continually tested to ensure they have the required skills and knowledge to carry out their role.
Training in relation to collective workers is thoroughly addressed within existing BF Foundation training given to all officers, and delivered across multiple sessions. This includes relevant policies, including the period of access, the Certificate of Sponsorship, and processing procedures associated with creative workers.
To qualify for entry in this category, a passenger has to meet the following criteria:
• have a valid Temporary Work - Creative Worker certificate of sponsorship (CoS)
• are coming to work in the UK for 3 months or less.
• do not normally need a visa to enter the UK as a visitor.
Further information on how individuals can qualify to enter the UK under this category can be found at: Creative Worker visa (Temporary Work): Creative Worker visa concession - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will take steps to improve (a) training and (b) guidance for Border Force officers on temporary admission procedures for entry into the UK for creative workers.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Border Force officers are trained to the highest of standards to be able to carry out their role to enforce immigration policy at the border.
Throughout that training, officers are continually tested to ensure they have the required skills and knowledge to carry out their role.
Training in relation to collective workers is thoroughly addressed within existing BF Foundation training given to all officers, and delivered across multiple sessions. This includes relevant policies, including the period of access, the Certificate of Sponsorship, and processing procedures associated with creative workers.
To qualify for entry in this category, a passenger has to meet the following criteria:
• have a valid Temporary Work - Creative Worker certificate of sponsorship (CoS)
• are coming to work in the UK for 3 months or less.
• do not normally need a visa to enter the UK as a visitor.
Further information on how individuals can qualify to enter the UK under this category can be found at: Creative Worker visa (Temporary Work): Creative Worker visa concession - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).