Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the estimated operational cost of the EU settlement scheme is.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
For the Financial Year 18/19, HM Treasury provided funding of £395million to Home Office. £170 million has been reserved for the development and delivery of the EU Settlement Scheme.
The Government will ensure the cost of this process is fully funded. What is important is that every EU, Swiss or EEA EFTA citizen and their family members who are here and want to stay, can stay, both in the event of a deal or no deal scenario, and that there is no financial barrier to their doing so.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will reimburse all reasonable administrative costs to EU citizens who apply for settled status.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
As the Prime Minister announced on 21 January, there will be no fee for applications under the EU Settlement Scheme when we roll out the scheme in full by 30 March. Anyone who has applied during the pilot phase, or who does so, will have their fee reimbursed. The Home Office will set out further details in due course.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January to Written Question 203216 on Immigration; Appeals, what the criteria are for his Department to expedite the consideration of an appeal based solely on human rights grounds in immigration cases, within the time limits set by the Tribunal Procedure Committee.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
Where the Home Office decides not to contest an allowed appeal, follow-on actions are completed as quickly as practically possible. The timeframe will vary for individual cases, especially where a fresh decision is required, or the customer needs to provide further information.
Requests for priority implementation are considered on a case by case basis. For example, if an appellant has provided credible evidence of the life-threatening illness or death of a close family member overseas, UKVI will prioritise the implementation, unless there are serious countervailing factors which necessitate holding the case.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) public and (b) private sector organisations will be able to access the personal information of applicants to the EU Settlement Scheme.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The Home Office is the data controller for all data processed within the EU Settlement Scheme, this includes where organisations are contracted to act on behalf of the Home Office as the Home Office. No other organisations have access to the personal information of applicants to the EU Settlement Scheme. The Home Office may however share information with other organisations, but only where the information needs to be shared and there is an appropriate legal basis for doing so. Further detail on this is set out in the Borders, Immigration and Citizenship System privacy information notice:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-information-use-in-borders-immigration-and-citizenship.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment the Government has made of the potential need for enhanced security on the Northern Irish border in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Ben Wallace
There is widespread recognition that the UK and EU can most effectively combat security threats when we work together. It is important we maintain operational capabilities after Brexit.
The UK is committed to delivering arrangements that will allow the Police Service of Northern Ireland to continue to tackle security threats, including international terrorism, the severe threat from dissident republicans, and serious and organised crime.
The Government is committed to ensuring that the UK’s departure from the EU does not lead to a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions the Government has held with the Irish Government on the potential need for enhanced security on the Northern Irish border in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
We have a close relationship with Ireland and have regular contact on a range of issues including security arrangements. This cooperation is ongoing and we remain committed to maintaining it as the UK leaves the EU.
Both Governments are equally committed to ensuring that our departure from the EU does not lead to a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his Department’s policy is on the timeframe for decisions to be issued following the consideration of an appeal based solely on human rights grounds in immigration cases.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
UK Visas and Immigration does not have a published service standard for processing appeals. Where the appeal has been allowed in favour of the appellant, the Home Office undertakes careful consideration of the judge’s determination in order to conclude whether to submit an application for permission to appeal within the time limits set by the Tribunal Procedure Committee.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to help maintain the integrity and independence of Interpol.
Answered by Nick Hurd
INTERPOL is a crucial organisation for police to police cooperation between 194 Member Countries.
Article 3 of INTERPOL’s constitution forbids the organisation from undertaking any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character. Furthermore, INTERPOL’s Commission for the Control of Files provides independent oversight to ensure that INTERPOL processes personal data in accordance with INTERPOL’s rules and Constitution.
The Government is working with INTERPOL to ensure the right systems are in place to protect individuals’ rights to maintain the integrity and independence of the organisation.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to prevent Russia abusing Interpol notices and rules for internal political aims.
Answered by Nick Hurd
The Government considers very seriously any misuse of INTERPOL notices and strongly supports INTERPOL’s efforts to ensure systems are in place that protect individuals’ human rights in line with Article 3 of INTERPOL's Constitution which strictly forbids any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.
The Home Office is continuing to work with INTERPOL and the National Crime Agency (NCA), which acts as the UK’s National Central Bureau for INTERPOL, on this matter.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many citizens of non-UK EU countries work in (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
All Government Departments are bound by legal requirements concerning the right to work in the UK and, in addition, the Civil Service Nationality Rules.
Evidence of nationality is checked at the point of recruitment into the Civil Service as part of wider pre-employment checks, but there is no requirement on departments to retain this information beyond the point at which it has served its purpose.