Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and The Weald)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which provisions of the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 the Government's plans to scrutinise in its post-implementation review.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
The Government is considering the planned post-implementation review of recent legal aid reforms and we will make an announcement in due course.
We are aware that previous Ministers agreed to submit a post-legislative memorandum for the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act to Parliament and to begin a post-implementation review of recent legal aid reforms shortly afterward. We are also aware that the Government has had a long-standing commitment to doing this review and publishing it by April 2018.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and The Weald)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her policy is on resuming the transfer of unaccompanied refugee children from France under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
In 2016, we transferred over 900 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children to the UK from Europe, including more than 750 from France as part of the UK’s support for the Calais camp clearance. Over 200 of these children met the criteria for section 67 of the Immigration Act.
On 10 March 2017 the Government published the basis on which future transfers under section 67 will take place, up to the specified number of 480. We are fully committed to delivering section 67 and are working very closely with France, Greece and Italy to agree processes for identifying and transferring further children. We have a Home Office secondee in each of Greece and Italy working on transfers of unaccompanied children under section 67 and the Dublin Regulation, who work with a network of partners including the Member State authorities, British Embassies, UNHCR, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and NGOs. During the Calais operation, at the invitation of the French government, over 200 Home Office officials were deployed to France to interview children for transfer to the UK. Further data on transfers of unaccompanied children from Europe will be published in due course.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and The Weald)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff of her Department were seconded to (a) France, (b) Italy and (c) Greece to facilitate the transfer of unaccompanied refugee children under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
In 2016, we transferred over 900 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children to the UK from Europe, including more than 750 from France as part of the UK’s support for the Calais camp clearance. Over 200 of these children met the criteria for section 67 of the Immigration Act.
On 10 March 2017 the Government published the basis on which future transfers under section 67 will take place, up to the specified number of 480. We are fully committed to delivering section 67 and are working very closely with France, Greece and Italy to agree processes for identifying and transferring further children. We have a Home Office secondee in each of Greece and Italy working on transfers of unaccompanied children under section 67 and the Dublin Regulation, who work with a network of partners including the Member State authorities, British Embassies, UNHCR, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and NGOs. During the Calais operation, at the invitation of the French government, over 200 Home Office officials were deployed to France to interview children for transfer to the UK. Further data on transfers of unaccompanied children from Europe will be published in due course.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and The Weald)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many unaccompanied refugee children were transferred from Italy to the UK in (a) 2016 and (b) 2017 under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
In 2016, we transferred over 900 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children to the UK from Europe, including more than 750 from France as part of the UK’s support for the Calais camp clearance. Over 200 of these children met the criteria for section 67 of the Immigration Act.
On 10 March 2017 the Government published the basis on which future transfers under section 67 will take place, up to the specified number of 480. We are fully committed to delivering section 67 and are working very closely with France, Greece and Italy to agree processes for identifying and transferring further children. We have a Home Office secondee in each of Greece and Italy working on transfers of unaccompanied children under section 67 and the Dublin Regulation, who work with a network of partners including the Member State authorities, British Embassies, UNHCR, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and NGOs. During the Calais operation, at the invitation of the French government, over 200 Home Office officials were deployed to France to interview children for transfer to the UK. Further data on transfers of unaccompanied children from Europe will be published in due course.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and The Weald)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many unaccompanied refugee children were transferred from Greece to the UK in (a) 2016 and (b) 2017 under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
In 2016, we transferred over 900 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children to the UK from Europe, including more than 750 from France as part of the UK’s support for the Calais camp clearance. Over 200 of these children met the criteria for section 67 of the Immigration Act.
On 10 March 2017 the Government published the basis on which future transfers under section 67 will take place, up to the specified number of 480. We are fully committed to delivering section 67 and are working very closely with France, Greece and Italy to agree processes for identifying and transferring further children. We have a Home Office secondee in each of Greece and Italy working on transfers of unaccompanied children under section 67 and the Dublin Regulation, who work with a network of partners including the Member State authorities, British Embassies, UNHCR, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and NGOs. During the Calais operation, at the invitation of the French government, over 200 Home Office officials were deployed to France to interview children for transfer to the UK. Further data on transfers of unaccompanied children from Europe will be published in due course.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and The Weald)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many unaccompanied refugee children were transferred from France to the UK in (a) 2016 and (b) 2017 under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
In 2016, we transferred over 900 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children to the UK from Europe, including more than 750 from France as part of the UK’s support for the Calais camp clearance. Over 200 of these children met the criteria for section 67 of the Immigration Act.
On 10 March 2017 the Government published the basis on which future transfers under section 67 will take place, up to the specified number of 480. We are fully committed to delivering section 67 and are working very closely with France, Greece and Italy to agree processes for identifying and transferring further children. We have a Home Office secondee in each of Greece and Italy working on transfers of unaccompanied children under section 67 and the Dublin Regulation, who work with a network of partners including the Member State authorities, British Embassies, UNHCR, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and NGOs. During the Calais operation, at the invitation of the French government, over 200 Home Office officials were deployed to France to interview children for transfer to the UK. Further data on transfers of unaccompanied children from Europe will be published in due course.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and The Weald)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential economic and social effect on the local community and local businesses of the proposed closure of Invicta Park Barracks; and what plans he has for a formal consultation on that proposed closure.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
"A Better Defence Estate" is a military-led review.
The decision to dispose of Invicta Park Barracks in 2027 was taken in consultation with Front Line Commands and the Chief of Defence People to optimise Defence infrastructure to support the delivery of military capability.
Advance notice was provided to enable Local Authorities to develop their plans to maximise opportunities from moves into or out of their areas. The Ministry of Defence has already held initial discussions with both Kent County Council and Maidstone Borough Council to inform them of our plans and will work with them to ensure the best possible outcome for the local community when the barracks close.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and The Weald)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what safety assessment his Department has carried out on the Invicta Park Barracks site to determine whether the land is suitable for house building; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Department's intention to close Invicta Barracks in 2027 forms part of a strategy to optimise the Defence estate to better support our Armed Forces.
The relevant safety assessments will be carried out at Invicta Park Barracks as part of the Department's standard disposals process.
The closure of the site may also contribute to future Government housing targets. Any future uses of the site will be determined by the local authority and the future owner.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and The Weald)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with (a) Kent County Council and (b) Maidstone Borough Council on the proposed closure of Invicta Park Barracks.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is due to dispose of Invicta Park Barracks in 2027. The MOD has held initial discussions with both Kent County Council and Maidstone Borough Council to inform them of our plans, and we will continue to engage with them as our plans to dispose of the site mature.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and The Weald)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether an Equality Impact Assessment will be published on the proposal to close Invicta Park Barracks.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
"A Better Defence Estate" is a military-led review.
The Department's intent to close Invicta Barracks in 2027 forms part of a strategy to optimise the defence estate to better support our Armed Forces.
Equality impact assessments are carried out to ensure suitable and appropriate reprovisions are made when sites are actually closed. Therefore, the equality impact assessment will not be undertaken until much later in the disposals process.