Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of individuals deemed eligible for removal to Rwanda that (a) have (i) partners and (ii) spouses and (b) are a dependent of an individual who has been granted (A) asylum and (B) other leave to remain.

Answered by Michael Tomlinson

It would be inappropriate to start giving out numbers. This is operationally sensitive information.

Everyone considered for relocation will be screened and have access to legal advice. Decisions will be taken on a case-by-case basis, and nobody will be relocated if it is unsafe or inappropriate for them.

For those with family links in the UK, who want to be considered for entry to the UK, they should seek to do so via legal and safe routes. Nobody should put their lives into the hands of criminal people smuggling gangs by making dangerous and irregular journeys.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of consignments containing only medium or low-risk goods which were required to pay the Common User Charge entering the UK from the EU were subject to a physical inspection under the Border Target Operating Model between 30 April and 5 May 2024.

Answered by Mark Spencer

Our checks are intelligence-led and based on biosecurity risk. It would be inappropriate for us to set out operational details like the exact inspection details from 30 April. Traders should continue to follow the published guidance which sets out BTOM inspection rates.

DEFRA will gradually increase changes in controlled stages to balance biosecurity risk and maintain trade flows whilst minimising disruption at the border.

This will allow the level of goods inspected at the border to be operationally manageable over the introductory stages.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of consignments containing high-risk goods which were required to pay the Common User Charge entering the UK from the EU were subject to a physical inspection under the Border Target Operating Model between 30 April and 5 May 2024.

Answered by Mark Spencer

Our checks are intelligence-led and based on biosecurity risk. It would be inappropriate for us to set out operational details like the exact inspection details from 30 April. Traders should continue to follow the published guidance which sets out BTOM inspection rates.

DEFRA will gradually increase changes in controlled stages to balance biosecurity risk and maintain trade flows whilst minimising disruption at the border.

This will allow the level of goods inspected at the border to be operationally manageable over the introductory stages.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff will be assigned to (a) monitor and enforce the restrictions introduced under the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) and (b) carry out the administration of the BTOM, expressed as (i) full-time equivalent numbers and (ii) headcount.

Answered by Mark Spencer

Monitoring and enforcing the border controls introduced under the BTOM is undertaken collaboratively on a site by site basis at each point of entry between Defra, Port Health Authorities (part of local authorities), the Animal and Plant Health Agency, Border Force and HMRC, and the Port Operators.

The department considers that this information is operationally - and in the case of Port Operators commercially - sensitive and should be withheld.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish the (a) cost of construction and (b) estimated annual running cost of the Sevington Border Control Post.

Answered by Mark Spencer

(a) The Department considers that this information is commercially sensitive and should be withheld.

(b) The Department will publish further information on Sevington Border Control Post operating costs shortly. This information will be provided as an update to existing common user charge GOV.UK publications.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Border Target Operating Model, if he will establish a (a) complaints and (b) appeals process for importers who feel they have been charged a higher sum under the Common User Charge than they are liable for.

Answered by Mark Spencer

Businesses who must pay the Common User Charge will be guided by appropriate advice and support.

Shared Services Connected Ltd. (SSCL) will issue invoices on behalf of Defra. As part of their service, SSCL will be the first point of contact for any invoice related queries, including where a customer has a query about the amount they have been charged. SSCL also have an established complaints procedure. SSCL’s contact details will be provided on the invoices. Where required, SSCL can escalate queries, issues and complaints to a dedicated team within Defra for further consideration, investigation and resolution.

In addition, where a customer is not satisfied with any aspect of the service, they can follow Defra’s standard complaints procedure, as detailed in the CUC terms and conditions.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2024 to Question 13303 on Import Controls: Disease Control, when he will publish an economic impact assessment of the legislative measures required to introduce the Border Target Operating Model.

Answered by Mark Spencer

Analysis has been and will continue to be produced for statutory instruments in accordance with the Better Regulation Framework.

An Impact Assessment was produced for The Official Controls (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024 and was published on 22 April on legislation.gov.uk.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many consignments entering the UK under the Border Target Operating Model have (a) had their documentation checked when entering the UK and (b) not had the correct documentation since 1 February 2024.

Answered by Mark Spencer

Our checks are intelligence-led and based on biosecurity risk. It would be inappropriate for us to set out operational details like the exact inspection details from 30 April. Traders should continue to follow the published guidance which sets out BTOM inspection rates.

DEFRA will gradually increase changes in controlled stages to balance biosecurity risk and maintain trade flows whilst minimising disruption at the border.

This will allow the level of goods inspected at the border to be operationally manageable over the introductory stages.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of consignments of (a) products of animal origin and (b) plant products that were liable for the common user charge had the correct paperwork in place upon their arrival in the UK between 30 April and 5 May 2024.

Answered by Mark Spencer

Our checks are intelligence-led and based on biosecurity risk. It would be inappropriate for us to set out operational details like the exact inspection details from 30 April. Traders should continue to follow the published guidance which sets out BTOM inspection rates.

DEFRA will gradually increase changes in controlled stages to balance biosecurity risk and maintain trade flows whilst minimising disruption at the border.

This will allow the level of goods inspected at the border to be operationally manageable over the introductory stages.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average time was between a consignment entering Sevington Border Control Post and leaving following (a) a physical inspection and (b) any other inspection between 30 April and 5 May 2024.

Answered by Mark Spencer

Monitoring and enforcing the border controls introduced under the BTOM is undertaken collaboratively on a site by site basis at each point of entry between Defra, Port Health Authorities (part of local authorities), the Animal and Plant Health Agency, Border Force and HMRC, and the Port Operators.

The department considers that this information is operationally - and in the case of Port Operators commercially - sensitive and should be withheld.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the projected spend by (a) central and (b) local government is on Animal and Plant Health Agency inspectors in 2024-25.

Answered by Mark Spencer

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) undertakes a very broad range of statutory inspections across Great Britain to protect animal, bee and plant health. These can relate to animal welfare, TB, biosecurity of (including pests, disease outbreaks and invasive species), trade or scientific research.

These inspections can be proactive (for example a bovine TB visit) or reactive (due to an outbreak). Direct staff and employers on costs for these inspection services are £44.7m. These costs are funded by Defra and the Devolved Administrations. APHA does not have inspectors funded by local government.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to ensure that patients taking pancreatic enzymes continue to receive them.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson

We are aware of supply issues with three pancreatic enzyme replacement therapies: Creon 10000 gastro-resistant capsules; Creon 25000 gastro-resistant capsules; and Nutrizym 22 gastro-resistant capsules. We understand that these are due to limited availability of active pharmaceutical ingredients, and manufacturing constraints in producing the volumes required to meet demand. The Department has issued guidance to healthcare professionals regarding treatment of patients while there is a disruption to the supply of these pancreatic enzyme replacement therapies. We are having regular conversations with the suppliers of these products, to ask that they expedite deliveries and increase production forecasts, and to confirm that they are taking action to address the root causes of the issues, to ensure continuity of supply. We are also working with specialist importers to source unlicensed imports from abroad.

Whilst we can’t always prevent supply issues, we have a range of well-established tools and processes to mitigate risks to patients. These include close and regular engagement with suppliers, use of alternative strengths or forms of a medicine to allow patients to remain on the same product, expediting regulatory procedures, sourcing unlicensed imports from abroad, adding products to the restricted exports and hoarding list, use of Serious Shortage Protocols, and issuing National Health Service communications to provide management advice and information on the issue to healthcare professionals, so they can advise and support their patients.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many physical inspections were carried out at the Sevington Border Control Post since 30 April 2024 by hour.

Answered by Mark Spencer

Our checks are intelligence-led and based on biosecurity risk. It would be inappropriate for us to set out operational details like the inspection details. Traders should continue to follow the published guidance which sets out BTOM inspection rates.

DEFRA will gradually increase changes in controlled stages to balance biosecurity risk and maintain trade flows whilst minimising disruption at the border.

This will allow the level of goods inspected at the border to be operationally manageable over the introductory stages.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many hours the Automatic Licence Verification System at the Sevington Border Control Point has been out of operation for since 30 April 2024.

Answered by Mark Spencer

A power outage at a privately owned data centre that Defra uses affected several Defra digital services last weekend. One of the services impacted was the Automatic Licence Verification System, which is used to validate and exchange information with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

This service was not available between 07:46 11 May and 20:50 14 May. This amounts to 85 hours and 4 minutes. Business Continuity Plans were implemented as soon as the disruption to the service was identified.

There have been no significant delays to border checks and we continue to protect our high standards of biosecurity in the UK through effective monitoring across all imports.

We have contingency arrangements in place for clearance of affected vehicles and consignments at the border, working alongside HMRC and Border Force.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to make an estimate of the (a) number and (b) proportion of consignments transiting through Control Points that average more than two inspections a day between 19:00 and 07:00 hours.

Answered by Mark Spencer

Our checks are intelligence-led and based on biosecurity risk. It would be inappropriate for us to set out operational details like the inspection details. Traders should continue to follow the published guidance which sets out BTOM inspection rates.

DEFRA will gradually increase changes in controlled stages to balance biosecurity risk and maintain trade flows whilst minimising disruption at the border.

This will allow the level of goods inspected at the border to be operationally manageable over the introductory stages.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the cost to the public purse was for the administration of the Import of products, animals, food and feed system in each year since 2019.

Answered by Mark Spencer

The Operating Costs for the IPAFFS Service for each year since 2019 are as follows:

• 2019 – £0.9M
• 2020 – £0.9M
• 2021 – £0.8M
• 2022 – £2.7M
• 2023 - £3.6M

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of applicants to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy were rejected and subsequently appealed that decision as of 20 May 2024; and whether the Government has made an assessment of the adequacy of those figures in comparison with asylum applications through other routes.

Answered by Andrew Murrison

As of 20 May 2024, 6,324 applicants to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme have used the right to seek a review of the eligibility decision that is set out in published policy. This represents approximately 7% of those found initially ineligible.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is only responsible for administering the ARAP scheme and is therefore unable to provide a comparison with appeals lodged in relation to asylum applications in the UK.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 12 March 2024 to Question 13303, whether he plans to lay the statutory instruments required to enable the border target operating model under the affirmative or negative parliamentary procedure.

Answered by Mark Spencer

The following SIs required by the Border Target Operating Model have now been laid, and are listed along with the parliamentary procedure by which they were laid:

PH/050: Negative

PH/055: Negative

OFC/016: Affirmative

PH/040: Affirmative

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 April 2024 to Question 20051 Import Controls: Fees and Charges, whether consignments from the EU (a) inspected at Sevington border control post and (b) subject to the Border Target Operating Model which do not pass through any border control post other than Sevington will be liable for charges levied by the Government other than the Common User Charge.

Answered by Mark Spencer

Details of Animal and Plant Health Agency inspection fees can be found on Gov.uk. For Port Health Authorities (PHA) inspection fees, traders should contact the PHA in question; many PHAs list their charges on their websites.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May to Question 24028 on Import Controls: Disease Control, if he will publish a list of all impact assessments related to the Border Target Operating Model.

Answered by Mark Spencer

Analysis has been produced to support relevant legislation in accordance with the Better Regulation Framework. Any further impact assessments required under the Better Regulation Framework will be published on legislation.gov.uk.

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Found: Creasy Dawn Butler Mr Ben Bradshaw Marsha De Cordova Christina Rees Graham Stringer Jon Cruddas

Found: Creasy Dawn Butler Mr Ben Bradshaw Marsha De Cordova Christina Rees Graham Stringer Jon Cruddas

Found: Creasy Dawn Butler Mr Ben Bradshaw Marsha De Cordova Christina Rees Graham Stringer Jon Cruddas

Found: Creasy Dawn Butler Mr Ben Bradshaw Marsha De Cordova Christina Rees Graham Stringer Jon Cruddas

Found: Creasy Dawn Butler Mr Ben Bradshaw Marsha De Cordova Christina Rees Graham Stringer Jon Cruddas

Found: Creasy Dawn Butler Mr Ben Bradshaw Marsha De Cordova Christina Rees Graham Stringer Jon Cruddas

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