Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will ensure that her Department does not engage in cooperation over migration control with security forces in (a) Libya and (b) other countries involved in (i) human rights abuses and (ii) violations of international law.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
We are clear on the need to respect international law and human rights when it comes to managing migration. The UK is working with Libya and other countries on migration and provides support to the most vulnerable migrants, working in partnership with international partners and institutions.
In line with UK Government policy (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a81781be5274a2e87dbdcc0/OSJA_Guidance_2017.pdf) the Government carries out Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) assessments for activity overseas to ensure the UK meets its human rights obligations and values.
Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to respond to the consultation entitled National guidance for community scrutiny panels, which closed on 19 October 2023.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Community scrutiny is a valuable means by which local communities can have a voice in how they are policed.
The consultation on the national guidance for community scrutiny panels ran under the previous government. We have no plans to respond to this consultation.
Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will ensure that children medically evacuated from Gaza to the UK will not be subject to forced return to (a) Gaza and (b) other unsafe countries following treatment.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Prime Minister announced at the end of July that the UK will medically evacuate Gazan children for treatment in the UK. A cross-government taskforce is working urgently to get some of these sick and injured children out of Gaza, so that they can receive specialist treatment in NHS hospitals across the UK.
All children will be accompanied by their immediate family. This includes parents, and any siblings under the age of 18, who will be subject to standard security screening before travel. Individuals will be required to submit their biometrics prior to travel, and we are doing everything we can to support their safe exit to a third country where their biometrics will be captured and applications processed. In cases where individuals are medically certified as too ill or unable to enrol, decisions on whether to defer biometric enrolment until arrival in the UK will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Those brought to the UK will be granted leave to stay for up to two years with the ability to access public funds, including treatment and wraparound support in the UK, this is irrespective of how long their treatment lasts. If individuals wish to remain beyond the initial two years, they can apply for further permission to stay under existing routes within the Immigration Rules.
Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that children evacuated from Gaza for medical treatment are accompanied by appropriate family members.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Prime Minister announced at the end of July that the UK will medically evacuate Gazan children for treatment in the UK. A cross-government taskforce is working urgently to get some of these sick and injured children out of Gaza, so that they can receive specialist treatment in NHS hospitals across the UK.
All children will be accompanied by their immediate family. This includes parents, and any siblings under the age of 18, who will be subject to standard security screening before travel. Individuals will be required to submit their biometrics prior to travel, and we are doing everything we can to support their safe exit to a third country where their biometrics will be captured and applications processed. In cases where individuals are medically certified as too ill or unable to enrol, decisions on whether to defer biometric enrolment until arrival in the UK will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Those brought to the UK will be granted leave to stay for up to two years with the ability to access public funds, including treatment and wraparound support in the UK, this is irrespective of how long their treatment lasts. If individuals wish to remain beyond the initial two years, they can apply for further permission to stay under existing routes within the Immigration Rules.
Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will waive biometric requirements for children medically evacuated from Gaza to the UK.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Prime Minister announced at the end of July that the UK will medically evacuate Gazan children for treatment in the UK. A cross-government taskforce is working urgently to get some of these sick and injured children out of Gaza, so that they can receive specialist treatment in NHS hospitals across the UK.
All children will be accompanied by their immediate family. This includes parents, and any siblings under the age of 18, who will be subject to standard security screening before travel. Individuals will be required to submit their biometrics prior to travel, and we are doing everything we can to support their safe exit to a third country where their biometrics will be captured and applications processed. In cases where individuals are medically certified as too ill or unable to enrol, decisions on whether to defer biometric enrolment until arrival in the UK will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Those brought to the UK will be granted leave to stay for up to two years with the ability to access public funds, including treatment and wraparound support in the UK, this is irrespective of how long their treatment lasts. If individuals wish to remain beyond the initial two years, they can apply for further permission to stay under existing routes within the Immigration Rules.
Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason her Department has not published service standards for the time taken for applications for Family visas made on the basis of a person’s private life to be considered.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under regular review, including service standards for processing visa applications.
Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has for Bitcoin seized from criminal activity.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Home Office is responsible for the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA).
POCA equips law enforcement agencies with a range of powers to deprive criminals of their money, or other property connected to criminal activity, and recover the proceeds of crime, including cryptocurrencies.
In April 2024, new powers came into force to enable law enforcement to more effectively investigate, seize, and recover the proceeds of crime within the cryptoasset ecosystem.
As with all assets, action to seize, recover and manage cryptoassets is for operational agencies, such as independent law enforcement bodies, and the courts to consider.
Criminal proceeds recovered via POCA can subsequently be returned in compensation to victims (following criminal conviction) or reinvested for use in tackling crime through the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS) and ARIS ‘Top Slice’ grant.
Further Information on both ARIS can be found in the data tables within the Asset Recovery Statistical Bulletin, which is published annually by the Home Office: Asset recovery statistics, financial years ending 2019 to 2024: Data Tables.
Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason there are currently no service standards in place for Family route visa applications.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Family visa applications have a service standard of 12 weeks. Further information on our Family visa service standards can be found here: Visa processing times: applications outside the UK - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2024 to Question 8506 on Asylum: Employment, whether she plans to reduce the waiting time from 12 to six months for asylum seekers to apply for permission to work.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Home Office’s priority remains to ensure that employers and employees who play by the rules are not undercut by people working illegally, or by unscrupulous employers exploiting their labour.
We have repeatedly resisted calls to relax our policy position on asylum seeker permission to work. Allowing asylum seekers the right to work sooner than under the current rules could enable migrants to bypass established work visa routes, and may act as an incentive for people to travel here illegally via dangerous routes. Asylum seekers do not need to make dangerous journeys to seek employment in the UK. There are various legal routes for those seeking to work in the UK under the Points Based System.
Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Public Order Act 2023 on the right to peaceful protest and assembly.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The right to peacefully protest is a fundamental part of our democratic society.
We have committed to carry out post-legislative scrutiny of the Public Order Act 2023 beginning in May 2025. This process will review how the legislation has operated since it came into force.