Sarah Teather

Liberal Democrat - Former Member for Brent Central

First elected: 18th September 2003

Left House: 30th March 2015 (Retired)


Sarah Teather is not a member of any APPGs
Human Rights (Joint Committee)
27th Jan 2014 - 30th Mar 2015
Draft Protection of Charities Bill (Joint Committee)
6th Nov 2014 - 3rd Feb 2015
Minister of State (Department for Education) (Children and Families)
13th May 2010 - 6th Sep 2012
Shadow Minister (Communities and Local Government) (Housing and Planning)
8th Oct 2008 - 6th May 2010
Shadow Secretary of State (Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform)
20th Dec 2007 - 8th Oct 2008
Shadow Secretary of State
28th Jun 2007 - 20th Dec 2007
Shadow Secretary of State for Education
10th Mar 2006 - 28th Jun 2007
Shadow Minister (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister)
10th May 2005 - 10th Mar 2006
Shadow Minister (Communities and Local Government)
28th Feb 2005 - 10th May 2005
Shadow Spokesperson (Health)
1st Jun 2003 - 1st Jun 2004


Division Voting information

Sarah Teather has voted in 1419 divisions, and 47 times against the majority of their Party.

17 Mar 2015 - Modern Slavery Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 37 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 276 Noes - 209
1 Dec 2014 - Criminal Justice and Courts Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 41 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 319 Noes - 203
1 Dec 2014 - Criminal Justice and Courts Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 42 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 315 Noes - 203
18 Nov 2014 - Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 23 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 24 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 284 Noes - 269
4 Nov 2014 - Modern Slavery Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 43 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 234 Noes - 288
4 Nov 2014 - Modern Slavery Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 45 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 229 Noes - 283
9 Jul 2014 - Legal Aid and Advice - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 38 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 274 Noes - 203
17 Jun 2014 - Criminal Justice and Courts Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 39 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 226 Noes - 290
17 Jun 2014 - Criminal Justice and Courts Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 37 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 0 Noes - 0
7 May 2014 - Immigration Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 37 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 305 Noes - 239
7 May 2014 - Immigration Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 39 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 307 Noes - 241
4 Feb 2014 - Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 41 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 292 Noes - 239
30 Jan 2014 - Immigration Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 6 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 33 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 297 Noes - 34
30 Jan 2014 - Immigration Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 4 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 38 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 210 Noes - 301
30 Jan 2014 - Immigration Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 38 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 295 Noes - 16
22 Jan 2014 - Legal Aid and Advice - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 38 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 304 Noes - 231
29 Aug 2013 - Syria and the Use of Chemical Weapons - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 10 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 32 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 272 Noes - 285
17 Jul 2013 - Organ Transplants - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 41 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 301 Noes - 203
17 Jul 2013 - Organ Transplants - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 40 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 300 Noes - 202
21 May 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 4 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 43 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 366 Noes - 161
20 May 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 11 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 37 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 150 Noes - 340
20 May 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 8 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 38 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 148 Noes - 339
20 May 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 9 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 37 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 163 Noes - 321
16 Apr 2013 - Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 4 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 41 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 310 Noes - 244
18 Mar 2013 - Crime and Courts Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 46 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 215 Noes - 307
7 Mar 2013 - Justice and Security Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 4 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 27 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 222 Noes - 13
4 Mar 2013 - Justice and Security Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 37 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 225 Noes - 298
4 Mar 2013 - Justice and Security Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 37 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 0 Noes - 0
4 Mar 2013 - Justice and Security Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 8 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 40 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 231 Noes - 296
4 Mar 2013 - Justice and Security Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 39 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 227 Noes - 295
5 Feb 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 4 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 44 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 400 Noes - 175
21 Jan 2013 - Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 9 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 36 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 305 Noes - 246
8 Jan 2013 - Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 6 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 41 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 324 Noes - 268
21 Nov 2012 - Social Security - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 40 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 283 Noes - 203
22 Oct 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 23 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 25 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 206 Noes - 298
22 Oct 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 21 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 30 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 194 Noes - 306
22 Oct 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 18 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 31 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 183 Noes - 308
22 Oct 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 16 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 30 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 355 Noes - 129
20 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 13 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 42 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 190 Noes - 332
20 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 27 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 28 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 173 Noes - 309
20 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 23 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 32 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 233 Noes - 304
19 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 15 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 40 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 176 Noes - 336
19 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 26 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 29 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 223 Noes - 286
19 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 20 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 34 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 181 Noes - 314
19 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 12 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 43 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 163 Noes - 342
19 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 22 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 32 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 200 Noes - 293
12 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill - View Vote Context
Sarah Teather voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 6 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 37 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 340 Noes - 78
View All Sarah Teather Division Votes

All Debates

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
James Brokenshire (Conservative)
(23 debate interactions)
Sharon Hodgson (Labour)
(16 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department for Education
(292 debate contributions)
Home Office
(80 debate contributions)
Ministry of Justice
(17 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Sarah Teather has not made any spoken contributions to legislative debate
View all Sarah Teather's debates

Latest EDMs signed by Sarah Teather

Sarah Teather has not signed any Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Sarah Teather, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


2 Urgent Questions tabled by Sarah Teather

Monday 12th January 2015
Thursday 10th April 2014

Sarah Teather has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

2 Bills introduced by Sarah Teather


A Bill to protect tenants against retaliatory eviction; to amend the law on notices requiring possession relating to assured shorthold tenancies; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading: House Of Commons
Friday 28th November 2014

The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to amend the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to require the Secretary of State to review levels of asylum support annually; to require him to lay before Parliament a draft up-rating order to increase levels of asylum support in line with changes made to mainstream benefits in years when the general level of prices has increased during the previous 12 month period; to replace support provided by the voucher system under subsections (10) and (11) of section 4 of the Act with a single, cash-based support system; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Tuesday 23rd April 2013

Sarah Teather has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
8th Dec 2014
To ask the Attorney General, how much has been paid by the Treasury Solicitor's Department in legal costs relating to the case of the Public Law Project v. The Secretary of State for Justice ([2014] EWHC 2365 (Admin)).

The only sums paid to date by the Treasury Solicitor’s Department are disbursements in the sum of £61,229.59. There are additional disbursements paid by the Ministry of Justice direct.

9th Jun 2014
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of average household earnings in 2014-15.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

16th Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, over what time period the £800 million committed by the Government in response to the conflict in Syria will be spent.

By the end of March 2015 we are expecting to have spent over £650 million and will have spent the full £800 million before the end of 2015.

16th Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much of the £800 million committed by the Government in response to the conflict in Syria has been spent; and how much of that sum is earmarked for future spending.

By the end of March 2015 we are expecting to have spent over £650 million and will have spent the full £800 million before the end of 2015.

16th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent steps her Department has taken to ensure a rapid humanitarian response for refugees displaced as a result of violence carried out by Boko Haram.

The UK has provided £1 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to deliver food, safe water, clothes, shelter material and other basic necessities to those people displaced following attacks by Boko Haram.

A further £1 million of UK funding is committed to the Nigerian Government’s “Safe Schools Initiative” to help protect children at school in North East Nigeria and provide schooling to children displaced by the violence. The UK has also contributed £1.7 million to the UN’s and EU’s relief efforts.

16th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions her Department has had with the Nigerian government about protection for humanitarian workers in northern Nigeria.

The UK is in regular dialogue with the Government of Nigeria about support to victims of Boko Haram. This includes protection for humanitarian workers in northern Nigeria.

16th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the effect has been of changes in the security situation and displacement of people following recent attacks by Boko Haram on UK Government-funded programmes for education in northern Nigeria.

The UK has provided £1 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to deliver food, safe water, clothes, shelter material and other basic necessities to those people displaced following attacks by Boko Haram.

A further £1 million of UK funding is committed to the Nigerian Government’s “Safe Schools Initiative” to help protect children at school in North East Nigeria and provide schooling to children displaced by the violence. The UK has also contributed £1.7 million to the UN’s and EU’s relief efforts.

13th Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households in the London Borough of Brent who have had their benefits capped under the household benefit cap have subsequently moved out of that borough.

The information requested is not readily available and can only be be provided at a disproportionate cost.

10th Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households in the London Borough of Brent have been subject to the household benefit cap for (a) less than one month, (b) between one and three months, (c) between three and six months and (d) more than six months.

The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

9th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households in the London Borough of Brent are affected by the household benefit cap; what the composition of the households is; and what the length of time and amount capped by the household benefit cap is.

The following information on number of households capped (latest data March 2014) is available by Local Authority at :

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-cap-number-of-households-capped-to-march-2014

Data is available on number of households capped (current and cumulative), amount capped, number of dependents and household type.

Details on length of time capped is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of how much each local authority returned to his Department in unused discretionary housing payment funding in 2013-14.

Local authorities are required to submit their claims for funding for Discretionary Housing Payments by 30 April following the end of the financial year.

Until the returns have been received from each authority, we are not in a position to say how much of this funding has been unused.

At the end of the 2012/13 year, of the £67,906,916 made available by central Government towards Discretionary Housing Payments, £12,453,471 (18.34%) was unspent.

5th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people ordinarily resident in the UK have a European Health Insurance Card.

As of 31 December 2014 there were 26,801,935 valid European Health Insurance Cards issued to people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, in circulation.

26th Sep 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of section 39 of the Immigration Act 2014 on the level of immunisations amongst children against the infectious diseases listed in Schedule 1 of The National Health Services (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2011.

NHS treatment in primary care (which in this context includes the standard childhood immunisations) is currently exempt from charging under the National Health Services (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations (2011). In addition, treatment for infectious diseases listed in Schedule 1 of the Regulations is also exempt from charging.

Section 39 of the Immigration Act 2014 concerns a change in the definition of ordinary residence within the context of National Health Services charging provisions for non-EEA nationals who are subject to immigration control. Some NHS services are only free-of-charge to those people who are ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom. Primary care services are currently free-of-charge, regardless of ordinarily resident status.

The introduction of section 39 will affect neither the exemptions in primary care nor the exemptions for infectious diseases.

4th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Nigerian government on implementing the (a) recommendations made by the UK and (b) other recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review.

At Nigeria’s UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in October 2013, the UK called on the Nigerian government to fully investigate reports of extra judicial killings and torture by the Nigerian security forces, to bring to justice those responsible and to establish a human rights monitoring system.

We continue to raise these and other human rights concerns with the Nigerian authorities, as highlighted at the UPR, such as the death penalty and LGBT rights.

4th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the human rights implications of UK military assistance to the Nigerian government to help combat Boko Haram.

When providing military assistance to another nation, the Ministry of Defence is required under the UK Government’s Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) Human Rights Guidance to consider the possibility of that assistance directly or significantly contributing to a violation of human rights and to identify measures that mitigate this risk. We continue to follow these stringent guidelines. The UK Government has made clear to the Nigerian authorities at all levels that, whilst we support Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, we do not condone human rights violations.

16th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the UK will provide observers for the forthcoming general election in Nigeria.

Presidential and gubernatorial Elections are due to take place in Nigeria on 14 and 28 February. We continue to call on all leaders and political parties to use their influence to ensure that elections are credible, transparent and free from violence. Approximately 50 personnel from the UK Missions in Abuja and Lagos also plan to observe in 14 States, including the Abuja Federal Capital Territory, for election polls on both 14 and 28 February. We are also planning to contribute 6 Local Short Term Observers to the European Union Election Observation Mission.

16th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees following the introduction of visa requirements for Syrian nationals entering Lebanon.

I discussed the issue of Syrian refugees with the Lebanese Prime Minister and the Speaker for Parliament when I visited Lebanon in December. I paid tribute to Lebanon’s generosity towards over 1.1 million registered refugees, and made clear that the UK’s support for Lebanon, which has now reached around £160 million since the start of the Syria crisis, will continue. Following the announcement of new border regulations by the Lebanese authorities, our Ambassador in Lebanon, alongside EU partners, reiterated to the Lebanese Prime Minister the international community’s concern that the new border regulations should provide adequately for the most vulnerable humanitarian cases. UK officials have also shared our concerns about the situation with the Lebanon Country Director of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

16th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the (a) number of resettlement places that EU member states are offering Syrian refugees and (b) EU's response to other aspects of the Syrian refugee crisis.

The UK Government believes that humanitarian aid and actively seeking to end the conflict in Syria are the most effective ways for the UK to help the majority of refugees, rather than increasing resettlement. That is why the UK has donated £700 million to support refugees in the region, making us the second largest bilateral donor after the USA. We have made our position on this clear in relevant discussions with other EU Member States. EU Member States have responded to the crisis in different ways; it is right that the international community should consider all available means to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had on the regeneration of the Brent Cross area with (a) Brent Council and (b) resident groups in Brent.

The Government has committed to working with the London Borough of Barnet to look at their proposals for the regeneration of Brent Cross. It is a matter for Barnet Council to discuss their plans with relevant stakeholders including Brent Council.

19th Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to ensure that people held in immigration removal centres have access to the websites of organisations that provide advice and support services for those people.

The provision of internet access in immigration removal centres helps detainees to remain in contact with family, friends and legal representatives and to prepare for removal. It is a contractual requirement that all immigration removal centres provide detainees with reasonable and regulated access to the
internet and IT facilities. It is important that detainees can access legitimate websites including news, education, employment and legal sites, and we are taking steps to standardise internet access across the detention estate. This includes consultation with the voluntary sector on website access and the development of a new Detention Services Order to set out requirements for access and monitoring.

18th Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to expand the size of the immigration detention estate.

Detaining and removing people with no right to be in the country, with dignity and respect, is an essential part of effective immigration controls.

The future requirements of the detention estate, including its capacity and location, is kept under constant review.

16th Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of recent trends in the rate of acceptances of visa applications for Syrians visiting the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Application volumes, issue and refusal rates of visa applications from all nationalities are monitored on an ongoing basis.

All visa applications made by Syrian nationals are considered on a case by case basis, on their individual merits, and in accordance with the Immigration Rules.

16th Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of people resettled in the UK under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme were principal applicants.

As of 31 December 2014, 143 people were relocated to the UK under the Vulnerable Persons Relocation (VPR) scheme, 34 of whom were principal applicants (i.e. head of family) and 109 their dependents.

This is the latest publicly available figure, as numbers are released as part of the Home Office official statistics each quarter. The number of arrivals under the scheme up to the end of March 2015 will be published on 21 May.

16th Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules tabled on 16 March 2015, HC1116, on the number of applications made by Syrian nationals for asylum in the UK.

An analysis of asylum claims made by Syrian nationals, in the eighteen month period ending November 2014, showed some Syrian asylum claimants were found to have abused the UK’s transit without visa provisions using a US issued visa. Applicants used their US visas to arrive in the UK to claim asylum rather than to transit to an onward destination as the provisions intend. The change made by HC1116 will stop this abuse.

12th Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to review the use of detention for immigration purposes.

Detention plays a key role in maintaining an effective immigration control and protecting our borders. We keep periods of detention to a minimum, consistent
with the need to detain in order to remove from the UK those with no right to be here and who do not leave voluntarily.

There are no plans to review the use of detention overall but on 9 February the Home Secretary announced that Stephen Shaw, the former Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, is to lead an independent review of the policies and procedures relating to the welfare of immigration detainees.

20th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been referred to her Department by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for resettlement in the UK through the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme to date.

As of 31 December 2014, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees had referred 260 people for consideration under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons
Relocation (VPR) scheme. This data has not previously been published, is based on management information only, and has not therefore been subject to the detailed checks that apply to National Statistics publications.

In the same period to 31 December, as already published through the quarterly release of Home Office statistics, 143 people had arrived in the UK under the VPR scheme.

4th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what financial and material support her Department provides to families who are removed from the UK via pre-departure accommodation.

Families removed from the UK via Cedars pre-departure accommodation are provided with an individual returns support package which can include financial assistance, based on need.

3rd Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applicants receiving support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 have been receiving that support for more than (a) two, (b) four and (c) six years; and if she will make a statement.

The total number of main applicants supported under Section 4 is now well below the peak of 12,019 in the Quarter 3 of 2009, standing at 3,566 in the Quarter 3 of 2014.

The number of main asylum claimants receiving Section 4 support for more than two, four and six years is set out in the table below.

Duration

Number of people

More than 2 years and up to 4 years

1,405

More than 4 years and up to 6 years

869

More than 6 years

329

3rd Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she expects to appoint the next Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration.

I refer my honourable Friend to the Written Ministerial Statement of the Home Secretary on 10 February 2015. Reference HCWS274.

3rd Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many unaccompanied asylum-seeking children granted discretionary leave to remain were subject to an enforced removal after turning 18 in each of the last five years.

The Home Office does not return Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) whose claims have been refused, unless adequate reception arrangements are in place in the country to which the child is to be returned. If adequate
reception arrangements are absent, most unaccompanied children are granted UASC Leave (formally known as UASC discretionary leave) which usually lasts until their 18th birthday.

When a child passes the age of 18 and UASC Leave expires, they are no longer considered to be a UASC and are therefore required to take steps to voluntarily return or seek further leave to remain. If the individual does not seek to
regularise their stay through further applications or leave is not granted they may be removed in accordance with the Immigration Rules and Published Home Office policy should they fail to leave voluntarily.The table below outlines the number of individuals removed in each of the last five years who had previously been granted discretionary leave to remain as an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child but has since passed the age of 18 and had
not regularised their leave or left the UK voluntarily.

Year

Total

2009

3

2010

43

2011

119

2012

57

2013

88

2014

40

Grand Total

350

3rd Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals have applied for an administrative review under paragraph 34M of Part 1 of the Immigration Rules since 20 October 2014.

According to internal management information,138 people applied for an administrative review under paragraph 34M of Part 1 of the Immigration Rules between 20 October 2014 and 31 December 2014.

21st Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she intends to publish the findings of the follow-up audit of reports made under Rule 35 of the Detention Centre Rules 2001.

The results of the audit of Rule 35 processes are being considered at present. We will consider how best to make them available in due course.

19th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for bail made under Schedules 2 and 3 of the Immigration Act 1971 or section 36(4) of the UK Borders Act 2007 were made to (a) an immigration officer, (b) the Secretary of State for the Home Department and (c) the First-Tier Tribunal, Immigration and Asylum Chamber in each of the last five years.

The Home Office does not record bail applications in a reportable format that shows the schedule under which each application was submitted. In order to extract this data each applicant’s Home Office file would need to be
interrogated to locate the paper copy of the bail application.

Therefore, to provide the data as requested would incur disproportionate cost.

19th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many fresh applications for asylum have been (a) made and (b) accepted, in each of the last five years.

There were 905 fresh claims, from main applicants, for asylum in the United Kingdom in 2009, 1,621 in 2010, 969 in 2011, 849 in 2012 and 866 in 2013 (provisional figure). This data can be found at as_01 and as_01_q at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.

2014 fresh claims data will be released on 26 February 2015.

19th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons her Department decided that further submissions on asylum and human rights cases must be made in person in Liverpool; with which bodies her Department consulted before making that decision; and what assistance her Department will provide to help individuals travel to Liverpool to make such submissions.

The changes are designed to speed up decision-making on further submissions, enabling us to grant protection more quickly to those who need it and remove those who have no right to be here.

Centralising the process will allow us to make decisions within five working days in most cases. The new process applies only to failed asylum seekers whose claims have already been refused, and their appeal rights exhausted.

There have been extensive internal discussions with policy experts, legal advisers and operational staff during the development of this policy. We believe that early public consultation would have led to a rush of further
submissions, but we notified the National Asylum Stakeholder Forum in advance of the changes. There is already a nationwide requirement for those who claimed asylum before March 2007 to lodge further submissions in Liverpool.

Travel costs will not be reimbursed. In exceptional cases where a person is genuinely unable to travel to Liverpool, for example due to a disability or severe illness, there is provision to accept further submissions by post.

16th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people under the age of 18 have been returned to (a) their country of nationality and (b) a third country by her Department in the last 12 months.

The table below shows the removals and voluntary departures of people under 18 by destination for the 12 month period to September 2014, the latest date for which figures have been published.

Removals and voluntary departures, people aged under 18, by destination
12 months to year ending September 2014Destination: Country of nationalityDestination: OtherTotal
Total enforced removals603090
Total refused entry at port and subsequently departed3707491,119
Total voluntary departures1,7765552,331

These figures are provisional and may subsequently differ when the tables are revised, due to data cleansing and data matching exercises that take place after the extracts are taken.

The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of persons removed or departed voluntarily from the UK within Immigration Statistics. The data on removals and voluntary departures are readily available
in the latest release, Immigration Statistics: July – September 2014, from the GOV.UK website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.

16th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will re-assess the procedures established to review the numbers of Syrians offered resettlement places in the UK as part of the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme to ensure that the scheme is responsive to need.

The Government is deeply concerned about the crisis in Syria, the suffering and hardship it is causing for millions of displaced Syrians in the region, and the strain it is placing on their host countries. Given the scale of the crisis,
we believe the most effective way to ensure the UK’s help has the greatest impact for displaced people and their host countries is through substantial humanitarian aid and actively seeking an end to the conflict so that refugees
can return to their homes and livelihoods safely. We have committed £700 million in response to the crisis, making us the second largest bilateral donor after the USA, and UK taxpayers' money is helping to support hundreds of
thousands of displaced people in the region, providing food, healthcare and essential supplies. Compared with aid, resettlement can only ever help a minority of those in need.

We launched the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation (VPR) scheme to complement our humanitarian aid efforts by offering protection in the UK to some of the most vulnerable refugees, who cannot be supported effectively in
the region. The scheme is based on need rather than fulfilling a quota, but we have said that we expect it to help several hundred people over three years, and we remain on track to deliver that commitment. We therefore have no current plans to change the way the scheme operates. However, we continue to monitor the situation in Syria and the surrounding region and work closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to identify the most
vulnerable people displaced by the conflict to ensure that the scheme remains responsive to need.

11th Dec 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many requests from broadcasters her Department has received to film (a) prisons and (b) immigration removal centres in the last five years; and how many such requests have been granted.

The Home Office does not have responsibility for prisons so requests for filming would be made to the Ministry of Justice.We do not have a central record of how many times broadcasters have requested to film immigration removal centres or how many times those requests have been granted.

9th Dec 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average cost of transferring a person between immigration removal centres is.

The Home Office has a contract with Tascor in respect of the transfer of immigration detainees between immigration removal centres. This is based on a rate per mile, the detail of which is commercially confidential.

18th Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much compensation her Department has paid for unlawfully detaining individuals under immigration powers in each of the last five years.

The amounts paid by the Home Office in compensation following claims for unlawful detention were as follows:

2011-12 £4.5 million
2012-13 £5.0 million
2013-14 £4.8 million

It is not possible to provide similar information for earlier periods, as data are not held in the appropriate format and to extract them would incur disproportionate cost.

18th Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Syrian nationals have been returned under the Dublin Regulation to (a) Bulgaria, (b) Italy and (c) Greece in each of the last five years.

The number of Syrian nationals transferred to Bulgaria, Greece and Italy under the Dublin Convention and the later Dublin II Regulations, because those States are responsible for examining their asylum claims, is shown in the
table below:

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Bulgaria

0

0

0

0

*

Greece

*

*

0

0

0

Italy

0

0

*

*

12

*represents a figure below 5.

The figures quoted have been derived from management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.

18th Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will halt any expansion of the immigration detention estate until the report from the inquiry by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Migration has been published.

Capacity of the detention estate is kept under rolling review. Decisions will continue to be made according to operational priorities.

18th Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the annual running costs of the immigration detention estate are.

In 2013/14 the total cost of running the Immigration Detention Estate was £164.4m. This includes all costs, including running costs, rent, depreciation and other costs, for all Immigration Removal Centres, Short Term Holding Facilities
and amounts paid for spaces in the main prisons estate.

31st Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were moved between different immigration removal centres in each of the last six months.

The information requested cannot be provided without collation and examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.

22nd Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2014 to Question 210553, how many of the people granted humanitarian protection under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme (a) are family members of individuals who qualify as vulnerable under the scheme and (b) have been assessed as having serious medical needs.

Of the people granted Humanitarian Protection under the Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme up to the end of June 2014, 11 are Principal Applicants and 39 are dependant family members. Of these people 14 have been assessed as having serious medical needs.

14th Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Syrian people have been resettled in the UK under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme since the launch of that scheme.

The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of people granted Humanitarian Protection in the UK under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons
Relocation scheme in Table as_19 (Asylum data table Volume 4) of the quarterly Immigration Statistics release.

A copy of the latest release, Immigration Statistics April – June 2014, is available from:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.

In the year ending June 2014, a total of 50 people were granted Humanitarian Protection under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme.

14th Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people are being held in prisons solely under immigration powers.

As at 14 October 2014 there were 374 detainees held in prison establishments solely under immigration powers.

The information provided above is based on management information only and has not been subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics publications. These figures are provisional and are subject to change.

14th Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals have been deprived of their British Citizenship under subsection (2) of section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981 in the last six months; how many such cases fell within subsection (4A) of that section; and if she will make a statement.

Under section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981, the Secretary of State is empowered to deprive, by order, any person of any form of British
nationality, subject to satisfying the relevant criteria. The Secretary of State may deprive somebody of their British citizenship if satisfied that such deprivation is conducive to the public good or the individual obtained British citizenship by means of fraud, false representation or concealment of a material fact. Since April 2014, seven people have been deprived of their citizenship on the grounds that it was either conducive to the public good to do so, or that the individual concerned obtained their British citizenship by means of fraud, false representation or concealment of a material fact. No cases have been deprived under subsection (4A) of that section.

Please note: this information has been provided from local management information and is not a national statistic. As such, it should be treated as
provisional and therefore subject to change.