Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that newly recognised refugees who are survivors of trafficking, domestic abuse or torture are not left destitute or homeless when asylum support ends.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Home Office is committed to supporting individuals granted leave to remain to successfully transition from asylum accommodation to mitigate the risk of homelessness.
The government is aware of the need for a smooth transition between asylum accommodation and other accommodation for those asylum seekers who are granted leave to remain. The Home Office is working to identify and implement efficiencies to support this process and mitigate the risk of homelessness.
Additionally, the Home Office has also placed Asylum Move On Liaison Officers (AMLOs) in over 50 Local Authorities across the UK, working alongside the Migrant Help and NGOs to support individuals who will be leaving asylum accommodation, and ensure a successful transition.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to increase collaboration between her Department and Drinkaware.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government regularly engages with partners on matters relating to the Licensing Act 2003 and the sale and supply of alcohol, including with Drinkaware.
We will continue to do so as we take forward reforms to the licensing regime.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her oral statement of 20 November 2025 on Migration: Settlement Pathway, what criteria she is considering to define high earners and entrepreneurs.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
We are currently holding a public consultation on the new earned settlement model. This is due to conclude on 12th February 2026. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the number of children subject to removal under her plans to remove families from the UK.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
All families will be offered financial support to enable them to return but, if that support is refused and steps are not taken to comply with the requirement to leave the UK, their return will be enforced. Decisions will continue to be governed by Section 55 duties and the Family Returns Process, with safeguarding and the best interests of the child paramount.
The Department has not published a numerical assessment of the number children who might be subject to removal under the plans announced on 17 November, which will continue to be developed over the coming months.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her oral Statement one 20 of November 2025, what thresholds is she considering to evaluate integration metrics such as volunteering and proficiency in English.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Under the new earned settlement model, generally, those seeking to settle must evidence that they are proficient in English at B2 level under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
We are consulting on how a higher, C1 standard of English might be rewarded with a reduction to the qualification period for settlement.
Similarly, we are consulting as to how volunteering and other contributions might be recognised and rewarded under the new earned settlement model.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, published on 17 November 2025, whether processes will be put in place for asylum seekers whose home countries have been deemed safe but that are not personally safe for them to return.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Core Protection will allow those who are at risk to remain in the UK as long it is necessary, whilst it is unsafe for them to return. Each case will be considered on its own individual merits. Further details about financial contributions, English language provision and the new work or study path are subject to further policy development which will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, published on 17 November 2025, whether caps will be placed on the number of asylum seekers accessing the new legal work or study paths.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Core Protection will allow those who are at risk to remain in the UK as long it is necessary, whilst it is unsafe for them to return. Each case will be considered on its own individual merits. Further details about financial contributions, English language provision and the new work or study path are subject to further policy development which will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, published on 17 November 2025, what English as a Second Language provision the Government plans to put in place to encourage asylum seekers to enter new legal work and study routes.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Core Protection will allow those who are at risk to remain in the UK as long it is necessary, whilst it is unsafe for them to return. Each case will be considered on its own individual merits. Further details about financial contributions, English language provision and the new work or study path are subject to further policy development which will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, published on 17 November 2025, what value of personal assets would require asylum seekers to contribute to their accommodation and living expenses.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Core Protection will allow those who are at risk to remain in the UK as long it is necessary, whilst it is unsafe for them to return. Each case will be considered on its own individual merits. Further details about financial contributions, English language provision and the new work or study path are subject to further policy development which will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, within the context of her asylum statement on 17 November 2025, if those arriving in the UK via safe and legal routes to seek asylum will have to wait for 20 years for indefinite settled status if they are recognised as refugees.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Our intention is that individuals arriving through reformed Safe and Legal resettlement routes will follow a ten-year path to settlement with the possibility of reducing this period based on contribution, in line with wider settlement reforms. This approach is subject to further consultation.
We are introducing transformative changes to Safe and Legal routes that will fundamentally reshape how the UK offers opportunities to refugees. Work is underway at pace to operationalise these new routes, and further details will be provided in due course.