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Written Question
Asylum: Children
Monday 28th November 2022

Asked by: Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how initial safeguarding judgments are used by (1) Home Office staff, and (2) contractors, when deciding on the treatment of asylum-seekers, in particular of unaccompanied children.

Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth

The Home Office and its accommodation providers have robust processes in place to ensure that where someone is at risk they are referred to the appropriate statutory agencies of police, NHS and social services to promote appropriate safeguarding interventions.

All contingency sites have security staff and providers liaise closely with local police to ensure the welfare and safety of vulnerable residents. However, the statutory agencies retain responsibility for all decisions on intervention activity.

We have safeguarding procedures in place to ensure all unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in emergency interim hotels are as safe and supported as possible whilst we seek urgent placements with a local authority. Young people are supported by team leaders and support workers who are on site 24 hours a day. Further care is provided in hotels by teams of social workers and nurses.


Written Question
Refugees: Afghanistan
Wednesday 22nd December 2021

Asked by: Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government which (1) international organisations, and (2) NGOs, they are working with as part of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)

We are working across government and with partners such as UNHCR to design the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), amidst a complex and changing picture. We are committed to working in step with the international community to get this right, and we will set out more details soon.

The first to be resettled through the ACRS will be some of those who arrived in the UK under the evacuation programme, which included individuals who were considered to be at particular risk.

The ACRS will be focused on people affected by events in Afghanistan, who are located in Afghanistan or in the region.

Eligible people will be prioritised and referred for resettlement to the UK as set out in the policy statement published on gov.uk on 13 September.


Written Question
Refugees: Afghanistan
Wednesday 22nd December 2021

Asked by: Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme places have been allocated to those who have already evacuated to EU member states.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)

We are working across government and with partners such as UNHCR to design the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), amidst a complex and changing picture. We are committed to working in step with the international community to get this right, and we will set out more details soon.

The first to be resettled through the ACRS will be some of those who arrived in the UK under the evacuation programme, which included individuals who were considered to be at particular risk.

The ACRS will be focused on people affected by events in Afghanistan, who are located in Afghanistan or in the region.

Eligible people will be prioritised and referred for resettlement to the UK as set out in the policy statement published on gov.uk on 13 September.


Written Question
Refugees: Afghanistan
Wednesday 22nd December 2021

Asked by: Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made with the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme; and when the scheme will open.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)

We are working across government and with partners such as UNHCR to design the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), amidst a complex and changing picture. We are committed to working in step with the international community to get this right, and we will set out more details soon.

The first to be resettled through the ACRS will be some of those who arrived in the UK under the evacuation programme, which included individuals who were considered to be at particular risk.

The ACRS will be focused on people affected by events in Afghanistan, who are located in Afghanistan or in the region.

Eligible people will be prioritised and referred for resettlement to the UK as set out in the policy statement published on gov.uk on 13 September.


Written Question
Refugees: Afghanistan
Tuesday 30th November 2021

Asked by: Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will open the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme, announced in August.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)

The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme is not yet open and remains under development. However, the first to be resettled through this scheme will be some of 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.

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.


Written Question
Visas: British National (Overseas)
Monday 29th June 2020

Asked by: Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what the application process and fees, including a possible NHS health surcharge, will be for British National (Overseas) status holders from Hong Kong and their dependants if they wish to apply for an extension of their leave for a further 12 months.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)

The UK will continue to defend the rights & freedoms of the people of Hong Kong. Should China push ahead and impose national security legislation on Hong Kong then we will provide a generous offer to BN(O)s of a bespoke immigration route providing unrestricted access to work and study with a pathway to apply for citizenship.The Home Office is working closely with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and domestic departments on the offer to British Nationals (Overseas) and will set out more detail in due course.


Written Question
Visas: British National (Overseas)
Monday 29th June 2020

Asked by: Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether British National (Overseas) status holders and their dependants are required to make any additional applications after their arrival before they will be allowed to apply to work or study in the UK; and whether such people will be subject to restrictions including (1) shortage of occupation professions, (2) minimum salary requirements, or (3) any other restrictions on the work for which they can apply.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)

The UK will continue to defend the rights & freedoms of the people of Hong Kong. Should China push ahead and impose national security legislation on Hong Kong then we will provide a generous offer to BN(O)s of a bespoke immigration route providing unrestricted access to work and study with a pathway to apply for citizenship.

The Home Office is working closely with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and domestic departments on the offer to British Nationals (Overseas) and will set out more detail in due course.


Written Question
British National (Overseas): British Nationality
Monday 29th June 2020

Asked by: Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, under the new scheme proposed for a possible pathway to citizenship for British National (Overseas) (BNO) status holders and their dependants, whether there will be a dedicated route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR); and if so, how many years it is proposed that BNO status holders and their dependants will have to be continuously resident in the United Kingdom before being eligible to apply for ILR.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)

The UK will continue to defend the rights & freedoms of the people of Hong Kong. Should China push ahead and impose national security legislation on Hong Kong then we will provide a generous offer to BN(O)s of a bespoke immigration route providing unrestricted access to work and study with a pathway to apply for citizenship.

The Home Office is working closely with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and domestic departments on the offer to British Nationals (Overseas) and will set out more detail in due course.


Written Question
British National (Overseas): Immigration
Monday 29th June 2020

Asked by: Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how any changes to British National (Overseas) (BNO) status will affect or be applied to BNO status holders and their dependants who are already present in the UK either lawfully or having overstayed.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)

The UK will continue to defend the rights & freedoms of the people of Hong Kong. Should China push ahead and impose national security legislation on Hong Kong then we will provide a generous offer to BN(O)s of a bespoke immigration route providing unrestricted access to work and study with a pathway to apply for citizenship.

The Home Office is working closely with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and domestic departments on the offer to British Nationals (Overseas) and will set out more detail in due course.


Written Question
Visas: Doctors
Monday 17th September 2018

Asked by: Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what cross-governmental discussions have taken place with regard to making more Tier 5 visas available for the Medical Training Initiative.

Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)

The Medical Training Initiative is a Government Authorised Exchange scheme, a sub-category of our Tier 5 (Temporary Worker) route. None of our Tier 5 (Temporary Worker) sub-categories, including Government Authorised Exchange sub-category, impose a cap. The numbers of participants on each scheme, including the Medical Training Initiative, are however monitored in line with the scheme proposal agreed with the Home Office.

The Home Office is in regular contact with all government departments regarding the operation of the UK’s immigration system.