Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Home Office:
What plans she has to bring forward proposals to review the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
This Government currently has no plans to review the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. We keep drug controls under review, in consultation with the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
Drugs Legislation forms part of our wider approach to preventing drug misuse alongside prevention and education, supporting treatment and recovery, and tackling the supply of illicit drugs.
Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing (a) a two year multi-entry touring visa, (b) a temporary cultural exemption for the transportation of instruments and equipment and (c) an expansion of the list of CITES-designated points of entry and exit to support the music industry's recovery after the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Kevin Foster
Currently, artists, entertainers and musicians visiting the UK can perform at events, take part in competitions and auditions, make personal appearances and take part in promotional activities for up to 6 months without the need for formal sponsorship or a work visa. They can also receive payment for appearances at permit free festivals for up to 6 months, or for up to one month for specific engagements, under the Visitor route.
HMRC advise ATA carnets are available for commercial goods, professional equipment or goods going to trade fairs or exhibitions in participating countries, which are moved on a temporary basis to a new customs territory.
In addition to using carnets, alternative options for transporting equipment on a temporary basis between the EU and the UK (without having to pay customs duties and VAT) are Temporary Admission and Returned Goods Relief.
The UK Government will keep the list of CITES Ports of Entry and Exit (PoEs), managed by DEFRA, under review and look to make additional designations where it is feasible and advantageous to do so.
Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help help ensure that asylum seekers living in hotel accommodation in Scotland are re-homed.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
It is Home Office policy to move people into suitable Dispersed Accommodation (DA) once their claim for support has been assessed, however we have had to restrict movement during COVID on public health advice.
Glasgow is currently the only dispersal area in Scotland and therefore procurement of longer term accommodation is limited to the city. Mears are working to procure suitable longer term accommodation across Glasgow and it is our intention, once restrictions on movement are lifted, to move all individuals in contingency accommodation into suitable DA, in consultation with Glasgow City Council.
We are working closely with public health colleagues (Greater Glasgow PHU) and local health leads (Asylum Health Bridging Team) to ensure their guidance on social distancing and self-isolation is properly applied, while ensuring that people can continue to access essential services. Accommodation providers have taken appropriate steps to comply with public health guidelines by limiting access to communal areas, sequencing food service, serving food to rooms, applying controls for distancing (e.g. tape markings) and providing translated public health guidance and instructions.
Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department is taking to help ensure that asylum seekers living in Scotland are (a) aware of and (b) follow the Scottish Government's social distancing advice.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
It is Home Office policy to move people into suitable Dispersed Accommodation (DA) once their claim for support has been assessed, however we have had to restrict movement during COVID on public health advice.
Glasgow is currently the only dispersal area in Scotland and therefore procurement of longer term accommodation is limited to the city. Mears are working to procure suitable longer term accommodation across Glasgow and it is our intention, once restrictions on movement are lifted, to move all individuals in contingency accommodation into suitable DA, in consultation with Glasgow City Council.
We are working closely with public health colleagues (Greater Glasgow PHU) and local health leads (Asylum Health Bridging Team) to ensure their guidance on social distancing and self-isolation is properly applied, while ensuring that people can continue to access essential services. Accommodation providers have taken appropriate steps to comply with public health guidelines by limiting access to communal areas, sequencing food service, serving food to rooms, applying controls for distancing (e.g. tape markings) and providing translated public health guidance and instructions.
Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary for the Home Department, if she will allow people who are able to work on their visa but have no access to public funds to be temporarily granted access to public funds for income during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government has put in place a range of measures to support people affected by the covid-19 outbreak and we will continue to review the situation to consider if more can be done.
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 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.
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.
Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to test people arriving at UK airports for covid-19.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Travellers returning to the UK are not specifically tested for coronavirus, but are monitored for symptoms. Passengers arriving at UK airports are provided with information on symptoms and the latest social distancing advice to bolster public health measures already in place.
We will continuously review the most appropriate response at the UK border to the changing situation in relation to CV-19, both in the UK and across the international community.
The same social distancing rules apply to new arrivals into the UK as apply to the population as a whole, as per the clear advice PHE have set out. Anyone in the UK, whether or not they have been abroad recently, should be following the latest guidance to stay at home, avoid unnecessary contact with others and self-isolate should they or anyone they live with show symptoms.
Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the meeting he is hosting in August 2019 with representatives from faith communities on changes to the immigration rules for (a) Tier 2 and (b) Tier 5 religious workers visas will involve representatives from the Scottish clergy and other religious organisations based in Scotland.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
On 8 July I held a meeting with representatives from the faith community about changes to Tier 2 and Tier 5 immigration rules. That meeting included a representative of the Scottish clergy.
Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions his officials have had with (a) the Scottish Government and (b) members of the Scottish clergy and other religious organisations based in Scotland on changes to the immigration rules in relation to (i) Tier 2 and (ii) Tier 5 visas for religious workers .
Answered by Caroline Nokes
On 8 July I held a meeting with representatives from the faith community about changes to Tier 2 and Tier 5 immigration rules. That meeting included a representative of the Scottish clergy.
Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions his Department has had with (a) representatives of the Scottish Government, (b) Scottish local authorities (c) the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (d) other Scottish local authority organisations, (e) Scottish Clergy and (f) other religious organisations in advance of the implementation of changes to the Immigration Rules in relation to Tier (i) 2 and (ii) 5 religious workers visas.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The Government values the contributions made by religious institutions, to communities across the UK and my officials remain in regular contact with representatives from a range of faith and community groups.
I recognise the importance of hearing directly from religious leaders to ensure that the immigration system works for all. Therefore, I am hosting a meeting next month with representatives of a broad-range of faith communities to provide an opportunity to listen to their concerns and share ideas on the future system.
Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to engage with the views of religious groups on the new Tier 2 Minister of Religion visa route.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The Tier 2 route for Ministers of Religion has been in place for several years. In January 2019 changes were made to the Immigration Rules governing the Tier 5 visa for religious workers. The Government wrote to faith leaders in December, setting out the detail and rationale behind those changes.
We are embarking on an extensive programme of engagement, in connection with the future immigration system, and will be talking to representatives from a range of faith and community groups. Officials also remain in regular contact with their representatives.