Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Home Office:
What recent progress her Department has made on implementing the new National Transfer Scheme.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
We are working towards implementing the new, fairer national voluntary rota on 26 July. The package of support we have put in place for local authorities includes £20m of additional funding and expert support on age assessment.
This will encourage more local authorities to step up and play their part in this shared national responsibility of supporting vulnerable unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many EU citizens have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme to date.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Home Office publishes data on the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) in the ‘EU Settlement Scheme statistics’.
The latest published information shows the total number of applications to the EUSS was 6.02 million up to 30 June 2021, of which 5.45 million had been concluded.
Published EUSS figures refer specifically to applications made to the EUSS and cannot be directly compared with estimates of the resident population of EU/EEA nationals in the UK. The published figures include non-EEA national family members, Irish nationals and eligible EEA nationals not resident in the UK, none of whom are usually included in estimates of the resident EU/EEA population.
Furthermore, the population estimates do not take account of people’s migration intentions and will include people who have come to the UK for a range of purposes, including some who have no intention to settle in the UK.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) published a blog on 2 July 2021, further discussing the differences and their plans for future population estimates:
Are there really 6m EU citizens living in the UK? | National Statistical (ons.gov.uk)
ONS are currently transforming their population and migration statistics to put administrative data at the core of what they do. The latest information on their work programme and longer term plans to transform migration and population statistics was published on 16 April 2021:
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate she has made of the number of EU citizens eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Home Office publishes data on the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) in the ‘EU Settlement Scheme statistics’.
The latest published information shows the total number of applications to the EUSS was 6.02 million up to 30 June 2021, of which 5.45 million had been concluded.
Published EUSS figures refer specifically to applications made to the EUSS and cannot be directly compared with estimates of the resident population of EU/EEA nationals in the UK. The published figures include non-EEA national family members, Irish nationals and eligible EEA nationals not resident in the UK, none of whom are usually included in estimates of the resident EU/EEA population.
Furthermore, the population estimates do not take account of people’s migration intentions and will include people who have come to the UK for a range of purposes, including some who have no intention to settle in the UK.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) published a blog on 2 July 2021, further discussing the differences and their plans for future population estimates:
Are there really 6m EU citizens living in the UK? | National Statistical (ons.gov.uk)
ONS are currently transforming their population and migration statistics to put administrative data at the core of what they do. The latest information on their work programme and longer term plans to transform migration and population statistics was published on 16 April 2021:
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will extend the leave to remain of EU citizens with an outstanding application to the EU Settlement Scheme so that they do not lose access to rights while they wait for a decision.
Answered by Kevin Foster
Under the Citizens’ Rights (Application Deadline and Temporary Protection) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, those who applied before the deadline, but whose application is not decided until after it, have their existing EU law rights protected pending the outcome of their application, including any appeal.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timeline is for the announcement of the new resettlement scheme.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Parliament was informed by Written Ministerial Statement on 18 March that the new global UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS) commenced on completion of the Vulnerable Persons and Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Schemes.
(https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2021-03-18/hcws855)
Since 2015 we have resettled over 25,000 refugees, more than any other European country - through our resettlement schemes and we are committed to welcoming vulnerable refugees through resettlement in the months and years to come. As set out in the New Plan for Immigration, the Government is committed to strengthening its resettlement offer as a safe and legal route to the UK for refugees in need of protection.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people subject to no recourse to public funds conditions (a) are in work and (b) have previously been in work.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The no recourse to public funds (NRPF) condition applies to millions of people, the vast majority of whom are visitors or other temporary migrants who have no need for public funds during their stay. It also applies to those without status, many of whom may not be in touch with the Home Office. We are therefore not able to accurately measure all those subject to NRPF at any one time.
The Home Office’s Chief Statistician wrote to the Office for Statistics Regulation last July to explain why the Home Office is not able to provide a figure for the total number of people currently in the UK to whom the NRPF condition applies. His letter can be found at: https://osr.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/correspondence/response-from-daniel-shaw-to-ed-humpherson-parliamentary-question-response/.
We do, however, publish quarterly immigration statistics on the number of entry clearance visas granted outside the UK, most of which will have had the NRPF condition applied. The latest figures for the year ending March 2021 can be found here: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes (publishing.service.gov.uk).
The immigration statistics data for in-country extensions from 2010 to year ending March 2021 can be found here: Extensions (publishing.service.gov.uk).
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people in the UK are subject to no recourse to public funds conditions.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The no recourse to public funds (NRPF) condition applies to millions of people, the vast majority of whom are visitors or other temporary migrants who have no need for public funds during their stay. It also applies to those without status, many of whom may not be in touch with the Home Office. We are therefore not able to accurately measure all those subject to NRPF at any one time.
The Home Office’s Chief Statistician wrote to the Office for Statistics Regulation last July to explain why the Home Office is not able to provide a figure for the total number of people currently in the UK to whom the NRPF condition applies. His letter can be found at: https://osr.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/correspondence/response-from-daniel-shaw-to-ed-humpherson-parliamentary-question-response/.
We do, however, publish quarterly immigration statistics on the number of entry clearance visas granted outside the UK, most of which will have had the NRPF condition applied. The latest figures for the year ending March 2021 can be found here: Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes (publishing.service.gov.uk).
The immigration statistics data for in-country extensions from 2010 to year ending March 2021 can be found here: Extensions (publishing.service.gov.uk).
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of ending the ban on asylum seekers working.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Asylum seeker right to work is a complex issue. A review of the policy is ongoing. The findings will be announced in due course.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress she has made on the review on lifting the ban on asylum seekers working.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Asylum seeker right to work is a complex issue. A review of the policy is ongoing. The findings will be announced in due course.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the potential effect on the public purse of granting asylum seekers the right to work.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Asylum seeker right to work is a complex issue. A review of the policy is ongoing. The findings will be announced in due course.