Asked by: David Warburton (Independent - Somerton and Frome)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will introduce a seasonal agricultural workers scheme once the UK has left the EU.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
I refer my Hon Friend to the answer given to the Honourable Member for Dundee West on 5 July UIN 1283.
Asked by: David Warburton (Independent - Somerton and Frome)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will introduce a seasonal agricultural workers scheme once the UK has left the EU.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Dundee West on 5 July 2017, UIN 1283.
Asked by: David Warburton (Independent - Somerton and Frome)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will introduce a seasonal agricultural workers scheme once the UK has left the EU.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Dundee West on 5 July 2017, UIN 1283.
Asked by: David Warburton (Independent - Somerton and Frome)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the most recent consultation with local authorities took place on their capacity to receive vulnerable children under Section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016; and what steps her Department is taking to consult local authorities on whether they can make more places available.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
In accordance with the Immigration Act 2016 the Government conducted a comprehensive consultation with local authorities across the UK in order to assess capacity for the care of unaccompanied children. On 13 May 2016, the then Immigration Minister wrote to all local authorities to provide an update on the launch of the National Transfer Scheme (NTS) and to encourage local authorities to participate in all schemes designed for children. On 7 June 2016, the then Immigration Minister, the Minister for Vulnerable Children and Families and the then Minister with responsibility for Syrian Refugees attended a national launch event in London which was attended by local authorities from across the UK. This was followed by regional events in England and in Scotland and Wales.
On 8 September last year, I wrote to all local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland asking them to confirm how many places they could offer to accommodate unaccompanied asylum seeking children. Home Office officials also maintained an ongoing dialogue with individual local authorities and regional Strategic Migration Partnerships throughout.
This is a voluntary scheme whereby local authorities sign up to accept unaccompanied asylum seeking children on a voluntary basis.
We asked local authorities to consider carefully whether they have the infrastructure and support networks needed to ensure the appropriate care of these unaccompanied children before participating in the NTS
Our consultation with local authorities indicated that there was capacity for an additional 400 UASC. This is in addition to the unaccompanied children already in local authority care. We estimate that at least 50 of the family reunion cases will require a local authority placement in circumstances where the reunion does not work out.
We estimate that at least 50 of the family reunion cases transferred from France as part of the Calais clearance will require a local authority placement in cases where the family reunion does not work out.We estimate that at least 50 of the family reunion cases transferred from France as part of the Calais clearance will require a local authority placement in cases where the family reunion does not work out.
Every region in England is participating in the NTS and we are working very closely with local authorities in Scotland and Wales who have also responded positively.
Asked by: David Warburton (Independent - Somerton and Frome)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department's policy is on ensuring that Afghan interpreters who have assisted British troops are able to claim asylum in the UK; and whether her Department plans to review that policy.
Answered by James Brokenshire
The Government accepts that we have a responsibility to those who have worked for the British forces in conflict zones. Many have served with distinction and at great personal risk. Separate schemes have existed since 2013 to assist interpreters previously employed by our forces in Afghanistan. These apply only to those who have remained in Afghanistan and, in recognition of their unique and exceptional service or the danger interpreters may face because of their work, can lead to relocation to the UK if certain criteria are met.
There is no change to the way in which asylum claims by former interpreters with British forces in Afghanistan are considered. All claims made in the UK are individually considered on their merits in accordance with our international obligations under the Refugee Convention. Those who we accept have a well-founded fear of persecution are normally granted asylum. Those who are found not to be in need of international protection have a right of appeal to the independent courts. If all appeal rights are exhausted, they are then required to leave the UK.
Government policy is however very clear that we only consider asylum claims lodged in the UK. We have no obligation to extend the asylum process to those outside the UK and cannot undertake to consider claims by individuals or groups in other countries or facilitate their journey to the UK. People who need international protection should seek protection in the first available safe country – that is the fastest route to safety.