Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that local authorities have adequate (a) funding and (b) support to house asylum seekers who are granted leave to remain.
Answered by Tom Pursglove
All individuals who receive a positive decision on their asylum claim are eligible to support and accommodation for at least 28 days from when their decision is served.
We offer move on support to all individuals through Migrant Help or their partner organisation in doing this. This includes providing advice on accessing the labour market, on applying for Universal Credit and signposting to local authorities for assistance with housing. Newly recognised refugees are entitled to housing assistance from their local authority and are treated as a priority need if they have children or are considered vulnerable. Individuals do not need to wait for their BRP to make a claim for benefits and are encouraged to do so as early as possible, if they require them.
We are ensuring our cross government partners, such as the (DWP) and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) are sighted on data to enable them to consider the impacts of increased decision making and effectively plan. We are also working with DLUHC to ensure the right asylum decision data is being shared with local authorities to enable effective planning and to lessen the impact on existing homelessness and rough sleeping pressures. Our accommodation providers are directly working with local authorities to notify them when an individual is due to have their asylum support ended.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the financial impact on local authorities of supporting asylum seekers who are granted leave to remain.
Answered by Tom Pursglove
All individuals who receive a positive decision on their asylum claim are eligible to support and accommodation for at least 28 days from when their decision is served.
We offer move on support to all individuals through Migrant Help or their partner organisation in doing this. This includes providing advice on accessing the labour market, on applying for Universal Credit and signposting to local authorities for assistance with housing. Newly recognised refugees are entitled to housing assistance from their local authority and are treated as a priority need if they have children or are considered vulnerable. Individuals do not need to wait for their BRP to make a claim for benefits and are encouraged to do so as early as possible, if they require them.
We are ensuring our cross government partners, such as the (DWP) and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) are sighted on data to enable them to consider the impacts of increased decision making and effectively plan. We are also working with DLUHC to ensure the right asylum decision data is being shared with local authorities to enable effective planning and to lessen the impact on existing homelessness and rough sleeping pressures. Our accommodation providers are directly working with local authorities to notify them when an individual is due to have their asylum support ended.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that asylum seekers given leave to remain have adequate support to access (a) housing and (b) health services.
Answered by Tom Pursglove
All individuals who receive a positive decision on their asylum claim are eligible to support and accommodation for at least 28 days from when their decision is served.
We offer move on support to all individuals through Migrant Help or their partner organisation in doing this. This includes providing advice on accessing the labour market, on applying for Universal Credit and signposting to local authorities for assistance with housing. Newly recognised refugees are entitled to housing assistance from their local authority and are treated as a priority need if they have children or are considered vulnerable. Individuals do not need to wait for their BRP to make a claim for benefits and are encouraged to do so as early as possible, if they require them.
We are ensuring our cross government partners, such as the (DWP) and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) are sighted on data to enable them to consider the impacts of increased decision making and effectively plan. We are also working with DLUHC to ensure the right asylum decision data is being shared with local authorities to enable effective planning and to lessen the impact on existing homelessness and rough sleeping pressures. Our accommodation providers are directly working with local authorities to notify them when an individual is due to have their asylum support ended.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to ensure people living in asylum accommodation have culturally-appropriate food.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
Food options are provided which cater for special dietary, cultural or religious requirements, including additional food or meals as required to meet the nutritional needs of asylum seekers for whom three daily meals may be insufficient.
As our cohort are of mixed religions and faiths, we offer facilities on-site via a dedicated mixed faith prayers and reflection area as well as facilities to pray. If asylum seekers wish to visit a place of worship, we will of course assist them to do this by co-ordinating logistics and helping them to navigate their way through any public transport arrangements or suitable alternatives.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to ensure people living in asylum accommodation can access places of worship.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
Food options are provided which cater for special dietary, cultural or religious requirements, including additional food or meals as required to meet the nutritional needs of asylum seekers for whom three daily meals may be insufficient.
As our cohort are of mixed religions and faiths, we offer facilities on-site via a dedicated mixed faith prayers and reflection area as well as facilities to pray. If asylum seekers wish to visit a place of worship, we will of course assist them to do this by co-ordinating logistics and helping them to navigate their way through any public transport arrangements or suitable alternatives.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help protect people from Hong Kong living in the UK from (a) intimidation and (b) violence.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat
The UK Government has taken firm action following restrictions on the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong, including delivering a UK-wide welcome Programme to support BN(O) (British National Overseas) status holders led by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
The Programme includes:
As you would expect, Home Office officials work closely with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and DLUHC, as well as other government departments, to ensure that the UK is a safe and welcoming place for both those who hold BN(O) status and other Hongkongers.
As I have made clear previously, freedom of expression is fundamental to who we are as a country. We do not tolerate attempts to silence, intimidate or harm those speaking truth to power. I urge anyone who is experiencing such behaviour to contact the police.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether training is being provided to police officers to help ensure they have appropriate knowledge and skills to support the (a) protection and (b) safety of Hong Kongers living in the UK.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
As you would expect, Home Office officials work closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, as well as other government departments, to ensure that the UK is a safe and welcoming place for both those who hold British National (Overseas) status and other Hongkongers.
The College of Policing sets and maintains training standards for policing. The Government is not aware of any training for police officers specifically in relation to Hongkongers ion the UK. However, the Code of Ethics, published by the College in 2014, includes equality and diversity among the standards of professional behaviour in the police.
The College’s foundation training for all those entering the service also covers supporting diverse communities. Training in each police force is the responsibility of individual chief officers, according to policing needs and priorities, which may include specific community needs.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people and from which countries have had their dual citizenship revoked since the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 came into effect.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Nationality and Borders Act 2022 amends provisions concerning the requirement to give notice before making a deprivation order. The power to deprive an individual of British citizenship is provided by section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981.
The British Nationality Act 1981 provides the Secretary of State with powers to deprive a person of citizenship status on ‘conducive to the public good’ grounds, or where a person obtained citizenship by means of fraud, false representation or concealment of material fact.
Detail on the numbers of deprivation orders made are published in reports which appear on the gov.uk website.
(see the Government Transparency Reports: Disruptive and Investigatory Powers, & an immigration statistics report dated 23 February 2023).
The latest HMG Counter-Terrorism Disruptive Powers Report 2021 lists conduct which the Government considers may mean that it is ‘conducive to the public good’ to deprive.
Reflecting the serious nature of the power, every decision to deprive an individual on ‘conducive to the public good’ grounds, is taken personally by the Home Secretary. Those decisions are made following careful consideration of advice from officials and lawyers and in accordance with international law, including the UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. Each case is assessed individually, and every decision comes with a right of appeal.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will publish the criteria considered when making the decision to deprive an individual of their British citizenship under the Nationality and Borders Act 2022.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Nationality and Borders Act 2022 amends provisions concerning the requirement to give notice before making a deprivation order. The power to deprive an individual of British citizenship is provided by section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981.
The British Nationality Act 1981 provides the Secretary of State with powers to deprive a person of citizenship status on ‘conducive to the public good’ grounds, or where a person obtained citizenship by means of fraud, false representation or concealment of material fact.
Detail on the numbers of deprivation orders made are published in reports which appear on the gov.uk website.
(see the Government Transparency Reports: Disruptive and Investigatory Powers, & an immigration statistics report dated 23 February 2023).
The latest HMG Counter-Terrorism Disruptive Powers Report 2021 lists conduct which the Government considers may mean that it is ‘conducive to the public good’ to deprive.
Reflecting the serious nature of the power, every decision to deprive an individual on ‘conducive to the public good’ grounds, is taken personally by the Home Secretary. Those decisions are made following careful consideration of advice from officials and lawyers and in accordance with international law, including the UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. Each case is assessed individually, and every decision comes with a right of appeal.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the protection of people with dual nationality from being subject to deportation under Clause 9 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Nationality and Borders Act 2022 amends provisions concerning the requirement to give notice before making a deprivation order. The power to deprive an individual of British citizenship is provided by section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981.
The British Nationality Act 1981 provides the Secretary of State with powers to deprive a person of citizenship status on ‘conducive to the public good’ grounds, or where a person obtained citizenship by means of fraud, false representation or concealment of material fact.
Detail on the numbers of deprivation orders made are published in reports which appear on the gov.uk website.
(see the Government Transparency Reports: Disruptive and Investigatory Powers, & an immigration statistics report dated 23 February 2023).
The latest HMG Counter-Terrorism Disruptive Powers Report 2021 lists conduct which the Government considers may mean that it is ‘conducive to the public good’ to deprive.
Reflecting the serious nature of the power, every decision to deprive an individual on ‘conducive to the public good’ grounds, is taken personally by the Home Secretary. Those decisions are made following careful consideration of advice from officials and lawyers and in accordance with international law, including the UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. Each case is assessed individually, and every decision comes with a right of appeal.