Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what formal arrangements exist between (a) the Home Office, (b) the NHS and (c) Braintree Community Hospital for (i) scanning and (ii) x-rays of asylum seekers at Wethersfield Airbase.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Asylum seekers have access to health and social care services from point of arrival in the UK and the Home Office work closely with the NHS, local authorities and contractors to ensure that asylum seekers can access the support they need. In relation to Wethersfield, financial support is being provided to the NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board.
There are varying entitlements to secondary healthcare services across England and the devolved governments. Specific examples can be found on NHS entitlements: migrant health guide - GOV.UK.
Extensive work has been undertaken with local and national health partners including the Multi Agency Forum (MAF) to work through the specifics of healthcare provision being provided at Wethersfield. The health and social care subgroup of the MAF was set up specifically to look at how we minimise the impact on local health services and facilitate primary healthcare on site, However, in specific circumstances, residents can be required to use local NHS facilities.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to the letter from the Rt hon. Member for Braintree of 8 September 2025 on Wethersfield.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
I apologise to my Rt Hon friend for the delay. He will receive a response by 28 October 2025.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the press release entitled Red tape slashed to revamp high streets with new cafes and bars, published on 26 July 2025, whether she plans to amend the statutory guidance entitled Revised guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 (February 2025), published on 27 February 2025.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
On 31 July, the Government published a report by a Licensing Taskforce which explored how we may deliver a more proportionate, consistent and transparent licensing regime with the aim of boosting growth.
The Government response, published alongside the Taskforce report, accepted the majority of the Taskforce’s priority recommendations, subject to further work and engagement, including consultation where required.
That work is now underway and will include consideration of any changes to the guidance issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 that may be required.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to allow all licensed pubs and restaurants to provide (a) off-sales and (b) take-away pints.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government recognises the important role that pubs and restaurants play in local communities and the wider economy. The temporary easement introduced during the pandemic, which allowed on-trade premises to provide off-sales without a variation, expired on 31 March 2025.
Businesses wishing to offer off-sales or takeaway pints can apply to vary their existing premises licence through existing processes under the Licensing Act 2003 for £89. New licence applicants already have the ability to request a license for both ‘on’ and ‘off’ sales at no additional cost.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to inform (a) Parliament and (b) the local community prior to any changes to the agreed cap on the number of asylum seekers at the Wethersfield site.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Any updates on the future use of the Wethersfield site will be announced in the normal way, and representatives of the local community, including the Rt Hon Gentleman, will also be informed of any such updates.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to propose an extension to the commissioning date of the Asylum Reception Centre at the former RAF Wethersfield.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Any updates on the future use of the Wethersfield site will be announced in the normal way, and representatives of the local community, including the Rt Hon Gentleman, will also be informed of any such updates.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to retain existing restrictions on the number of asylum seekers housed at the former RAF Wethersfield site.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Any updates on the future use of the Wethersfield site will be announced in the normal way, and representatives of the local community, including the Rt Hon Gentleman, will also be informed of any such updates.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to close the Asylum Reception Centre at the former RAF Wethersfield site; and what steps she is taking to ensure that the decommissioning is within the timescale outlined in the Special Development Order.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Any updates on the future use of the site will be announced in the normal way.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Oral Statement of 22 July 2024 on Border Security and Asylum, Official Report, columns 384-387, how many people who would have been eligible for (a) processing and (b) relocation to Rwanda have remained in the UK.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I refer the Rt Hon Gentleman to the Statement form the Home Secretary on 22 July 2024, to which this question refers, and which explains the fundamental flaw in the premise of his question, namely that – during his own time as Home Secretary, he was unable to establish a way to make the Rwanda scheme operational, and as such, the categories referred to in this question do not exist.
Nevertheless, the Rt Hon Gentleman will be pleased to note that – since coming to office – this Government has ensured the removal of more than 24,000 people with no right to be in the UK, the highest nine-month total for returns since January to September in 2017.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce small boat crossings.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I refer the Rt Hon Gentleman to the Statements made by the Home Secretary when moving the Border Security Asylum and Immigration Bill for its second reading on 10 February 2025, and when reporting on the UK’s hosting of the Organised Immigration Crime summit on 31 March 2025.