Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy not to classify overseas students as immigrants.
Answered by James Brokenshire
The UK welcomes the brightest and best to study in our country. There is no cap on the number of non-EU students who can study at our world-class institutions. The UK has an excellent offer for international students, and as a result remains the second most popular destination for international higher education students. The latest figures show that in the year ending September 2014 there was a 4% increase (to 179,390) of full time non-EU new entrants to UK Higher Education Providers.
Published Home Office immigration statistics record data on all people coming to the UK or remaining here who are subject to immigration control. This includes all non-EU students. All migrants who are in the UK for 12 months or more have an impact on our communities, infrastructure and public services.
International students are also included in net migration statistics that are produced by the independent Office for National Statistics (ONS). In line with the internationally agreed UN definition, these statistics define a migrant as someone changing their normal place of residence for more than a year. Students are therefore included in the same way as other migrants. Other countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand also include students in their net migration figures.
The ONS estimates that in 2014, 135,000 non-EU students came to Britain to stay for more than 12 months, but only 44,000 left the UK. This is a difference of 91,000. Several thousand of those who stayed have switched into skilled work, and we welcome the skills that they bring. However, many more over stay and do not leave when they should and is an important component of net migration. The Government is considering what further measures may be appropriate to address this issue.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to allow widows and widowers of police officers who died after retirement from the police service to keep their pensions if they re-marry.
Answered by Mike Penning
In the Budget on 18 March 2015, the Government announced its intention is to allow widows, widowers and surviving civil partners of police officers who have died on duty and were members of the 1987 Police Pension Scheme to keep their survivor’s benefits if they remarry, form a civil partnership or cohabit. There are no plans for this change to apply to widows and widowers of police officers who have died after retirement.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to end the practice of illegal migration in small boats; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by James Brokenshire
The UK is playing its full part in dealing with the immediate situation in the Mediterranean, to prevent further loss of life at sea. The Prime Minister offered UK operational assets to support efforts, coordinated by Italy and Frontex’s Operation Triton.
However, we need to break the link between getting on a boat and achieving residence in Europe. That is why the UK is also playing a leading role in pushing for comprehensive, long-term action through the EU and the UN to tackle the causes of illegal immigration and the organised trafficking gangs behind it, as well as increasing support and protection for those who need it in North and East Africa.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to eliminate people trafficking into the UK; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Karen Bradley
This Government is determined to tackle the scourge of human trafficking and modern slavery. We will do this by supporting the victims and relentlessly pursuing the perpetrators of theses horrendous crimes.
We are now focused on implementing the provisions of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the wider Modern Slavery Strategy, which was published in November last year. These include measures to bring into effect modern slavery offences with potential life sentences; a statutory defence for victims; an independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner; improving transparency in supply chains; and working with international partners to disrupt the threat across the world.
This work will make a real difference in our fight against modern slavery and will help to protect many more vulnerable people from lives of servitude.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to allow widows and widowers of police officers who died as serving officers to keep their full pension entitlements when remarrying; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Mike Penning
The Government announced at the Budget on 18 March 2015, that we will allow widows, widowers and surviving civil partners of police officers who have died on duty to keep their survivor’s benefits if they remarry, form a civil partnership or cohabit. This will not apply to all survivors in the 1987 Police Pension Scheme. The Home Office will consult the Police Advisory Board for England and Wales shortly on proposals to implement this change.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential cost to businesses of prohibiting the use of strong encryption; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by James Brokenshire
The Home Office have received a number of representations from members of the
public on encryption. This Government supports the use of encryption, which
helps keep personal data and intellectual property safe. It is also vital that
the security and intelligence agencies can access unencrypted data to prevent
threats to our national security, when it is necessary and proportionate to do
so. We will continue to engage with industry regarding these issues.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has received about the feasibility of the technical work involved in prohibiting the use of strong encryption; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by James Brokenshire
The Home Office have received a number of representations from members of the
public on encryption. This Government supports the use of encryption, which
helps keep personal data and intellectual property safe. It is also vital that
the security and intelligence agencies can access unencrypted data to prevent
threats to our national security, when it is necessary and proportionate to do
so. We will continue to engage with industry regarding these issues.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will review the case of Mr and Mrs Khanovych, application references Warsaw 208144 and 208145, to enable them to visit their daughter in the UK; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by James Brokenshire
It is not the policy of the Home Office to comment on the detail of individual applications. I will write to the Hon Member.