Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of suspending the deportation flight to Zimbabwe scheduled for 2 March 2022 in the context of violence against political opposition supporters in that country in recent days.
Answered by Tom Pursglove
We make no apology for seeking to remove those with no right to remain in the UK and foreign criminals. That is why we regularly operate charter flights to different countries - to remove foreign criminals who abuse our hospitality by committing crimes here, and those who have no right to be in a country, but refuse to leave voluntarily.
Individuals are only returned to their country of origin where claims have been unsuccessful, and the Home Office and, where applicable, the Courts deem it is safe to do so, with a safe route of return. By definition, those persons do not need protection and are not at risk on return.
We are monitoring the situation there, working with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Our general assessment of risk for political opponents to the government remains set out in our published country policy and information note of September 2021.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending the deadline for Surinder Singh applications to the EU Settlement Scheme beyond 29 March 2022.
Answered by Kevin Foster
In April 2019 the Government announced transitional arrangements for the family members of qualifying British citizens living in the EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 to enable them to return to the UK under EU law terms. This means they have had nearly three years in which to decide whether to return to the UK on this basis.
Family members who apply by 29 March 2022 for an EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) family permit to return to the UK in order to apply to the EUSS will be considered to have reasonable grounds for applying to the EUSS in the UK after the deadline, provided they do so without delay. An application to the EUSS can also be made from outside the UK where the family member has previously returned here with the British citizen and is currently outside the UK within the absence periods permitted under the Scheme.
In the interests of fairness, it remains the Government’s approach to align under the family Immigration Rules the family reunion requirements for all British citizens, wherever they and their families reside.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for EU Settlement Scheme family permit are pending a decision.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The published statistics for EU Settlement Scheme family permits can be found at Why do people come to the UK? For family reasons - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Home Office publishes data on entry clearance visas in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on EEA Family Permit and EU Settlement Scheme family permit applications and outcomes are published in table Vis_D01 and Vis_D02 of the entry clearance visa detailed datasets. Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress she has made with the Windrush Compensation Scheme; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Kevin Foster
We publish information on the total number of claims submitted, claims paid, and the overall amount paid out by the Windrush Compensation Scheme on a monthly basis. The latest set of data can be found at:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/windrush-compensation-scheme-data-october-2021
We are processing claims as quickly as possible, but all claims are different, and the time taken will depend on many factors, including the complexity of the case. Wherever possible, we will make a preliminary payment as soon as someone applying on their own behalf, or on behalf of someone who has sadly passed away, can show any impact on their life under the terms of the Scheme. Individuals do not have to wait for their whole application to be assessed in order to receive a preliminary payment.
We have taken steps to encourage more people to submit a claim and to help those who already have. We have removed the end date of the Scheme to ensure no one is prevented from making a claim if they are eligible. We have also launched a package of support to help those making, or who have already made, claims on behalf of a relative who has passed away to obtain the legal documentation required to process their claims. In addition, we have published a redesigned primary claim form which is easier for people to complete, and refreshed casework guidance which sets out clearly how caseworkers should apply the balance of probabilities and go about gathering evidence, with the aim of reducing the time taken to process claims and improving peoples’ experiences of applying to the Scheme.
We are also continuing to work extensively with communities and stakeholders to raise awareness of the Scheme and encourage affected individuals to apply. Since the launch of the Scheme we have attended or hosted approximately 200 outreach and engagement events, and in 2020 we carried out a national communications campaign to make sure those most affected around the UK are aware of the support available to them and how to apply. In addition, the £500,000 Windrush Schemes Community Fund provides for grassroots organisations and community groups to run their own outreach, promotional and support activity.