Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consultations she has (a) held and (b) plans to hold with relevant industry and citizens' rights groups on the operation of the European temporary leave to remain scheme.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The Government does not plan to undertake a public consultation on the European Temporary Leave to Remain Scheme, the proposed arrangements for which were set out on 4 September 2019 and are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-immigration-after-free-movement-ends-if-theres-no-deal.
However, the overall policy and approach have been discussed with internal and external stakeholders, such as groups representing employers, EU citizens in the UK, Consulates and community organisations, and account has been taken of those discussions.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time to process an application to the EU Settlement Scheme is.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The following link lists the expected processing times for EU Settlement Scheme applications, based on current performance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-settlement-scheme-application-processing-times/eu-settlement-scheme-pilot-current-expected-processing-times-for-applications.
Our aim is to process all applications to the Scheme as expeditiously as possible. The majority of applications are concluded within 5 working days. However, it is likely to take longer in the following instances:
Overall, the total number of applications that have been concluded, as of 30 September 2019, was more than 1.5 million (1,524,500). Of these, 61% were granted settled status, 38% were granted pre-settled status.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when the second part of the Leveson inquiry into regulation of the press will be commenced; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The government announced in 2018 that it would not be taking forward Part 2 of the Leveson Inquiry. The Inquiry and subsequent police investigations were comprehensive. More than 300 people gave evidence to the Inquiry, and over 40 people were convicted during the three major investigations. The media landscape has changed significantly since Part 1 of the Inquiry. Reopening the Inquiry would cost millions, and we believe it is no longer appropriate, proportionate, or in the public interest to do so. There have been extensive reforms to policing practices, as well as significant changes to press self-regulation.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the eligibility criteria are for existing family members when applying for settled status after 31 December 2020 but before 29 March 2022.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The Government’s priority remains to leave the European Union with a deal.
In the event that we leave the EU without a deal, the EU Settlement Scheme will continue to operate for EU citizens resident here by exit. They would be able to be joined in the UK under the scheme, by 29 March 2022, by existing close family members (spouses, partners, children, parents and grandparents), where the relationship existed by exit (or where a child was born overseas after this date) and continued to exist when the family member applied.
Details of the policy on citizens’ rights in a no deal Brexit were published on 6 December 2018 and are available here:
Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 170, which would implement the relevant changes to the EU Settlement Scheme in the event of a no deal Brexit, was laid before Parliament on 24 October 2019 and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-170-24-october-2019.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the criminality checks would be for EEA citizens seeking to migrate to the UK in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
In circumstances where the United Kingdom has withdrawn from the European Union without a deal, EU citizens who move to the UK and wish to stay beyond 31 December 2020 will need to apply for European temporary leave to remain.
Applicants will be required to declare whether they have criminal convictions in the UK or abroad. We will carry out criminality and security checks on all applications including checks against UK police databases as well as Home Office watch-lists.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to hold a public consultation on the operation of the European temporary leave to remain scheme.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The Government does not plan to undertake a public consultation on the European Temporary Leave to Remain Scheme, the proposed arrangements for which were set out on 4 September 2019 and are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-immigration-after-free-movement-ends-if-theres-no-deal.
However, the overall policy and approach have been discussed with internal and external stakeholders, such as groups representing employers, EU citizens in the UK, Consulates and community organisations, and account has been taken of those discussions.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which Yemeni institutions and individuals have funds frozen in the Bank of England.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Responsibility for the implementation of financial sanctions transferred from the Bank of England to Her Majesty’s Treasury in 2007. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), which is part of HM Treasury, ensures that financial sanctions are properly understood and implemented in the UK. It is for holders of assets subject to sanctions to ensure that they are frozen under the regulations.
The Yemen sanctions regime imposes an asset freeze against five individuals. Details of the Yemen regime, including the designated persons, can be publicly accessed on GOV.UK at the following web address: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/financial-sanctions-yemen.
OFSI undertakes an Annual Review of frozen assets in the UK, requiring all persons or institutions that hold or control frozen assets in the UK to report to OFSI. As of 28 September 2018, the value of frozen funds associated with designated persons on the Yemen regime was some £3,500,000 (see OFSI Annual Review 2018 – 2019, available at: https://gov.uk/ofsi.) HM Treasury does not provide a breakdown of the value of frozen assets held by certain individuals or entities, nor does it provide detailed information of frozen assets associated with specific designated persons.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the value is of funds frozen of Yemeni institutions and individuals in the Bank of England.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Responsibility for the implementation of financial sanctions transferred from the Bank of England to Her Majesty’s Treasury in 2007. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), which is part of HM Treasury, ensures that financial sanctions are properly understood and implemented in the UK. It is for holders of assets subject to sanctions to ensure that they are frozen under the regulations.
The Yemen sanctions regime imposes an asset freeze against five individuals. Details of the Yemen regime, including the designated persons, can be publicly accessed on GOV.UK at the following web address: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/financial-sanctions-yemen.
OFSI undertakes an Annual Review of frozen assets in the UK, requiring all persons or institutions that hold or control frozen assets in the UK to report to OFSI. As of 28 September 2018, the value of frozen funds associated with designated persons on the Yemen regime was some £3,500,000 (see OFSI Annual Review 2018 – 2019, available at: https://gov.uk/ofsi.) HM Treasury does not provide a breakdown of the value of frozen assets held by certain individuals or entities, nor does it provide detailed information of frozen assets associated with specific designated persons.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has received on the situation in Kashmir.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
We are following the situation in Kashmir closely and are in regular contact with the Government of India and the Government of Pakistan.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what criteria the Government uses when deciding whether to freeze funds of Yemeni institutions and individuals.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Sanctions against Yemen were imposed by the UN (under UN Security Council Resolution 2140) in 2014 following an escalation in violence in Yemen, including attacks against military and security facilities. Specific designation criteria set out by that resolution can be applied when there is evidence of individuals or entities engaging in or providing support for acts that threaten the peace, security or stability of Yemen. Five individuals are currently designated under this regime and are subject to asset freezes and travel bans. The UK implements these sanctions as part of its international legal obligations.