Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how revenue generated from passport fees is allocated.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Revenue generated from passport fees contribute to the recovery of the costs provided for under section 86 of the Immigration Act 2016: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2016/19/section/86.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle illegal immigration into the UK via the Republic of Ireland.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)
The UK and Ireland have a close and collaborative working relationship on a range of issues, including migration and border security. That collaboration includes a joint commitment to protect the Common Travel Area (CTA) from abuse while preserving the rights of British and Irish citizens.
The UK operates intelligence-led operational activity on routes between Ireland and the UK and everyone entering the UK, regardless of where they enter from, is required to meet UK’s immigration requirements. Anyone identified attempting to circumvent UK border controls is liable to be detained and, if they are not lawfully present within the UK, removed.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people identified as illegal migrants are being housed in Northern Ireland; and what funding they have received in the last five years.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)
As at 30 September 2024, there were 2,632 people in receipt of Asylum Support being housed in Northern Ireland. Further data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, and by local authority can be found within the Asy_D11 tab for our most recent statistics release: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab).
The Home Office publishes information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts at Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab).
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department has issued to police forces on assessing whether silent prayer is taking place during public protests or gatherings whereby that action may constitute a breach of the law.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office has not issued any guidance to police forces on the topic of silent prayer.
The College of Policing have primary responsibility for publishing police guidance and are operationally independent from Government.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance she has issued to police forces on ensuring that their methods of assessing silent prayer respect individuals' rights to freedom of (a) thought, (b) conscience and (c) religion.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office has not issued any guidance to police forces on the topic of silent prayer.
The College of Policing have primary responsibility for publishing police guidance and are operationally independent from Government.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the clandestine entrant civil penalty scheme applies to (a) heavy goods vehicles, (b) accompanied trailers, (c) unaccompanied trailers and (d) coaches travelling from Northern Ireland (i) directly and (ii) indirectly to Great Britain.
Answered by Robert Jenrick - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
The Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme does apply to (a) heavy goods vehicles, (b) accompanied trailers, (c) unaccompanied trailers and (d) coaches travelling from Northern Ireland indirectly to Great Britain.
It does not apply to vehicles travelling from Northern Ireland directly to Great Britain.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether HM Passport Office has a target time for responding to queries from hon. Members on behalf of their constituents.
Answered by Robert Jenrick - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
The target time for His Majesty’s Passport Office to respond to written queries from hon. Members is 20 working days. For the most urgent cases, hon. Members can continue to contact HM Passport Office via the dedicated hotline.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average waiting time for an application for a child's first passport to be processed is; and if she has made an assessment of the potential impact of industrial action on that waiting time.
Answered by Robert Jenrick - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
HM Passport Office is well-positioned to manage the current period of industrial action, and there are no plans to change the guidance which states that it takes up to ten weeks to get a passport.
In March 2023, the median processing time* for applications using the standard UK service for a child’s first passport was ten days.
*The processing time starts from the date that supporting documents are received and allocated to the application, to the date that the passport is printed plus a further two days for courier delivery.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of current firearms licensing laws in preventing ammunition licensed for legitimate reasons from being acquired by people who manufacture, sell or acquire 3D printed weapons.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
The Home Office is committed to tackling the threat posed by 3D printed firearms and they are subject to the same legislative controls as any other firearms. We are working closely with the National Crime Agency (NCA) to tackle the emergence of unlicensed 3D firearms in the UK, including Project Interknow in which the NCA is leading the multi-agency response to this issue. The Home Office continues to work closely with law enforcement, including the NCA and other operational partners to manage the national security threat and protect public safety.
The possession, purchase or acquisition of ammunition is strictly controlled under the Firearms Act 1968. A person wanting to possess ammunition, and any associated firearms that it will be used with, must hold a valid firearms certificate issued by the police. This includes for 3D printed firearms.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the impact of the manufacture and supply of 3D printed weapons on the capabilities of organisations and individuals who pose a threat to national security.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
The Home Office is committed to tackling the threat posed by 3D printed firearms and they are subject to the same legislative controls as any other firearms. We are working closely with the National Crime Agency (NCA) to tackle the emergence of unlicensed 3D firearms in the UK, including Project Interknow in which the NCA is leading the multi-agency response to this issue. The Home Office continues to work closely with law enforcement, including the NCA and other operational partners to manage the national security threat and protect public safety.
The possession, purchase or acquisition of ammunition is strictly controlled under the Firearms Act 1968. A person wanting to possess ammunition, and any associated firearms that it will be used with, must hold a valid firearms certificate issued by the police. This includes for 3D printed firearms.