Asked by: Sam Tarry (Labour - Ilford South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help build trust with Muslim communities and to work with faith leaders in eradicating extremism.
Answered by Damian Hinds
The Government remains determined to promote British values actively, working in partnership and alongside all communities to demonstrate what we have in common as the best defence against extremists who would seek to divide us.
We will not tolerate those who spread divisive and harmful narratives. We are committed to tackling those who spread views of any ideology that promote violence and hatred against individuals and communities in our society, and that radicalise others into terrorism.
Our work to counter radicalisation through Prevent works best when it is delivered in partnership with communities and civil society, including faith institutions. We also work with our delivery partners to facilitate a comprehensive programme of engagement events aimed at local communities around the country. This programme invites members of the public to learn more about Prevent and also discuss and offer their views on Prevent.
In addition, Sara Khan has been appointed by the Prime Minister as the government’s Independent Adviser for Social Cohesion and Resilience, as part of government action to tackle extremism in our communities.
She will hear from both victims of extremism and those on the frontline working to combat it – from teachers to faith leaders to local councils – to understand and ultimately counteract its effects.
Asked by: Sam Tarry (Labour - Ilford South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to provide financial support for visa fees to people in receipt of personal independence payments and universal credit.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Home Office provides exceptions to the need to pay application fees in a number of specific circumstances to ensure the Home Office’s immigration and nationality fee structure complies with international obligations and wider government policy.
Fee waivers are available on affordability grounds where the payment of a fee would be incompatible with an applicant’s rights under the European Convention on Human Rights. Detailed guidance can be found via the following link:
Fee waiver - casework guidance (publishing.service.gov.uk)
The Home Office keeps fees for immigration and nationality applications under review and ensures they are within the parameters agreed with HM Treasury and Parliament.
Asked by: Sam Tarry (Labour - Ilford South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to provide mental health support to (a) asylum seekers who have come to the UK from war torn countries with a record of severe human right abuses and (b) other people seeking asylum in the UK.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
Asylum seekers can access the same NHS health services as UK citizens while their asylum claim is pending, and this of course includes mental health services. Home Office staff and contractors may make referrals to NHS healthcare providers where they become aware of serious health issues.
Asked by: Sam Tarry (Labour - Ilford South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will take steps to review the English B1 and Life in UK Test for spouses and carers of disabled and extremely vulnerable patients in light of the role that carers and spouses have played during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Government believes those seeking to make a permanent home in the UK should be equipped to integrate successfully in the UK, with an appropriate level of English and an understanding of British life and society’s expectations.
All applicants between the ages of 18 and 65 are therefore required to pass the Life in the UK test; and meet the English language requirement, either when applying for settlement or citizenship.
There is discretion to waive these requirements if a person’s physical or mental condition means it would be unreasonable for them to have to pass the test or learn English. Applicants must submit a medical waiver form completed by a medical practitioner to support their request for exemption from these requirements.
Unless the requirement is met because the applicant is a national of a majority English-speaking country, or they have a degree taught or researched in English, we need to be satisfied as to their English language skills through the passing of a specified test at or above the required level.
We have established 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.
Where a test centre is closed or inaccessible due to covid-19, an application will be put on hold and applicants are permitted to submit their test certificates at a later date. Further information about the current concessions in place can be found here:
If there is evidence the inability of an applicant to meet these requirements due to covid-19 will lead to significant detriment to the circumstances, dignity, and well-being of any disabled and extremely vulnerable patient who is dependent on them for their care, the Secretary of State has the power to grant leave on a discretionary basis outside the Immigration Rules. Further information on the requirements for cases considered outside the Immigration Rules can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/chapter-1-section-14-leave-outside-the-immigration-rules.
Asked by: Sam Tarry (Labour - Ilford South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many workers have no recourse to public funds; and what steps the Government will take to support those workers financially during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Government is keeping the situation under constant review. For example, COVID19 has been added to the list of communicable diseases so anyone experiencing symptoms, regardless of their immigration status will be treated for free by the NHS.
The no recourse to public funds (NRPF) condition is applied to the leave of most migrants in the UK as a legitimate means of maintaining and protecting our economic resources. Information about NRPF is held on individual case files so wider population data, such as that requested for all households nationally, is not held by the Home Office.