Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to amend the Minimum Income Requirement to ensure that UK citizens and settled persons sponsoring their family members under the immigration rules are not penalised by (a) being furloughed, (b) having a wage cut and (c) being made redundant as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Home Office has put in place a range of measures to support those affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. We continue to monitor the situation closely and take these exceptional circumstances into account.
The minimum income requirement can be met in a number of ways in addition to or instead of income from employment or self-employment. For example, income from the couple’s investments, property rental or pension may also be taken into account, together with their cash savings. Where there are exceptional circumstances, other sources of income can also be taken into account.
These are unprecedented times and we may make further temporary adjustments to requirements where necessary and appropriate. We will ensure people are not unduly affected or penalised by circumstances beyond their control.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on migrants in the UK who have no recourse to public funds.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office is working closely with other government departments to support people, including migrants with no recourse to public funds, through this crisis. We are taking a compassionate and pragmatic approach to an unprecedented situation.
Migrants with leave under the Family and Human Rights routes can apply to have the NRPF restriction lifted by making a ‘change of conditions’ application if there has been a change in their financial circumstances. The Home Office has recently digitised the application form to make sure it is accessible for those who need to remain at home, and I can assure you that the applications are being dealt with swiftly and compassionately.
Many of the wide-ranging Covid-19 measures the government has put in place are not public funds and therefore are available to migrants with no recourse to public funds (NRPF). We therefore do not believe it is necessary to suspend the NRPF condition.
The Coronavirus job retention scheme, self-employment income support and statutory sick pay are not classed as public funds for immigration purposes. Contribution-based benefits are also not classed as public funds for immigration purposes. Additionally, measures we have brought forward such as rent and mortgage protections are not considered public funds and can be accessed by migrants with leave to remain.
Local authorities may also provide basic safety net support if it is established that there is a genuine care need that does not arise solely from destitution, for example, where there are community care needs, migrants with serious health problems or family cases where the wellbeing of a child is in question.
The Government has made in excess of £3.2bn of funding available to local authorities in England to assist them in managing the pressures arising out of the pandemic.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to suspend the no recourse to public funds condition during the covid-19 lockdown.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office is working closely with other government departments to support people, including migrants with no recourse to public funds, through this crisis. We are taking a compassionate and pragmatic approach to an unprecedented situation.
Migrants with leave under the Family and Human Rights routes can apply to have the NRPF restriction lifted by making a ‘change of conditions’ application if there has been a change in their financial circumstances. The Home Office has recently digitised the application form to make sure it is accessible for those who need to remain at home, and I can assure you that the applications are being dealt with swiftly and compassionately.
Many of the wide-ranging Covid-19 measures the government has put in place are not public funds and therefore are available to migrants with no recourse to public funds (NRPF). We therefore do not believe it is necessary to suspend the NRPF condition.
The Coronavirus job retention scheme, self-employment income support and statutory sick pay are not classed as public funds for immigration purposes. Contribution-based benefits are also not classed as public funds for immigration purposes. Additionally, measures we have brought forward such as rent and mortgage protections are not considered public funds and can be accessed by migrants with leave to remain.
Local authorities may also provide basic safety net support if it is established that there is a genuine care need that does not arise solely from destitution, for example, where there are community care needs, migrants with serious health problems or family cases where the wellbeing of a child is in question.
The Government has made in excess of £3.2bn of funding available to local authorities in England to assist them in managing the pressures arising out of the pandemic.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support will be provided to non-EEA nationals who are at risk of over-staying their short term visas as a result of self isolating in response to covid-19.
Answered by Kevin Foster
Due to travel restrictions because of coronavirus, some individuals may be facing uncertainty in relation to the expiry date of their current visa or leave to remain in the United Kingdom. We are taking steps to ensure foreign nationals will not be regarded as breaking their continuity of residence as a result of coronavirus and related travel restrictions.
Visas for Chinese nationals which were due to expire between 21st January and 30 March 2020 have already been automatically extended until 31 March 2020. We continue to monitor the situation in all countries and we are keeping this under constant review. A dedicated coronavirus immigration helpline https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents#helpline has been set up for those who wish to discuss their circumstances. The freephone number is 0800 678 1767 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Corona virus (Covid-19) immigration guidance on travel restrictions and China, published by her Department on 17 February 2020, if she will extend that guidance to other non-EEA countries that have isolation measures in place.
Answered by Kevin Foster
Due to travel restrictions because of coronavirus, some individuals may be facing uncertainty in relation to the expiry date of their current visa or leave to remain in the United Kingdom. We are taking steps to ensure foreign nationals will not be regarded as breaking their continuity of residence as a result of coronavirus and related travel restrictions.
Visas for Chinese nationals which were due to expire between 21st January and 30 March 2020 have already been automatically extended until 31 March 2020. We continue to monitor the situation in all countries and we are keeping this under constant review. A dedicated coronavirus immigration helpline https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents#helpline has been set up for those who wish to discuss their circumstances. The freephone number is 0800 678 1767 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that foreign nationals will not be regarded as breaking their continuity of residence where their continued absence from the UK results from a restriction on international travel due to covid-19.
Answered by Kevin Foster
Due to travel restrictions because of coronavirus, some individuals may be facing uncertainty in relation to the expiry date of their current visa or leave to remain in the United Kingdom. We are taking steps to ensure foreign nationals will not be regarded as breaking their continuity of residence as a result of coronavirus and related travel restrictions.
Visas for Chinese nationals which were due to expire between 21st January and 30 March 2020 have already been automatically extended until 31 March 2020. We continue to monitor the situation in all countries and we are keeping this under constant review. A dedicated coronavirus immigration helpline https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents#helpline has been set up for those who wish to discuss their circumstances. The freephone number is 0800 678 1767 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her Department's plans on the criminalisation of trespass of the judgment in Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Bromley v Persons Unknown and Others [2020] EWCA Civ 12.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Home Office is aware of the judgment in Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Bromley v Persons Unknown and Others [2020] EWCA Civ 12.
Implications of this on the proposals to criminalise trespass or extend police powers will be taken into consideration throughout the development of the policy on unauthorised encampments.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what preparations the UKVI has made to process licence applications from businesses that wish to sponsor European nationals; and what assessment she has made of the preparedness of that organisation to undertake that work.
Answered by Kevin Foster
UK Visas & Immigration continually monitors the effectiveness of the sponsor licensing operation to ensure process efficiency and customer delivery. The unit continues to meet performance standards and this is reflected in the sponsorship transparency data. The transparency data can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sponsorship-transparency-data-february-2020
The requirements for the licensing operation to deal with licence applications from employees for the new UK points-based system has been factored into the implementation plan for the new system.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government has plans to agree a reciprocal Youth Mobility Scheme with the EU after the transition period.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The UK currently has youth mobility arrangements with eight countries and territories, resulting in around 20,000 young people coming to the UK each year.
We keep youth mobility scheme arrangements under review and will expand our offer to other countries if it is in the UK’s interest.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government has plans to agree a reciprocal Youth Mobility Scheme with individual EU member states after the transition period.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The UK currently has youth mobility arrangements with eight countries and territories, resulting in around 20,000 young people coming to the UK each year.
We keep youth mobility scheme arrangements under review and will expand our offer to other countries if it is in the UK’s interest.