Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons his Department charges the rate that it does for processing licence applications for medical cannabis.
Answered by Nick Hurd
Fees for all drug licences issued are charged on a full cost recovery basis, reflecting the total cost of processing that case from start to finish. Where a fee is payable, it is charged in accordance with the Misuse of Drugs (Fees) Regulations 2010 and payable by the ‘applying’ organisation (e.g. an NHS trust). Fee payments are not ordinarily met by individual patients.
The Government is committed to reviewing the fees paid for licenses that are awarded as a result of the advice of the Expert Panel. That review will take place urgently and will conclude before summer recess, with any legislation laid before the House at the first available date following its conclusion.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Office, when an update is planed for her Department's country report for Pakistan.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
As explained in the response of 26 April 2018 [137113], the Home Office no longer publishes comprehensive country reports covering all aspects of human rights in that country. Instead, we produce more focussed topic-specific reports called Country Policy and Information Notes (CPINs) designed to address the most common and/or complex issues raised in protection claims in the UK.
There are currently 12 CPINs on Pakistan, which are updated periodically and available on the Gov.Uk website. We have just updated the CPIN on Ahmadis and are in the process of updating the one on Christians and Christian Converts.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Office, when an update is planed for her Department's country report for Pakistan.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
As explained in the response of 26 April 2018 [137113], the Home Office no longer publishes comprehensive country reports covering all aspects of human rights in that country. Instead, we produce more focussed topic-specific reports called Country Policy and Information Notes (CPINs) designed to address the most common and/or complex issues raised in protection claims in the UK.
There are currently 12 CPINs on Pakistan, which are updated periodically and available on the Gov.Uk website. We have just updated the CPIN on Ahmadis and are in the process of updating the one on Christians and Christian Converts.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether children suffering from epilepsy and associated illnesses will be able to apply for emergency use of medical cannabis after receiving the consent of a doctor.
Answered by Nick Hurd
We recognise that people suffering from chronic pain and debilitating illnesses will look to alleviate their symptoms. Recent cases have shown that we need to look more closely at the use of cannabis based medicine in healthcare in the UK. That is why the Home Secretary announced on 19 June that there would be a two-part review into the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes.
In lieu of the outcomes of this review, a time limited expert panel of clinicians has been set up and will establish a process to assess applications for special licences to prescribe cannabis based medicinal products and, where appropriate, recommend applications to the Home Secretary and the Department of Health in Northern Ireland.
Clinicians will be at the heart the process. Any proposal on a course of treatment will be clinically led with evidence based recommendations provided by clinicians. As such the Expert Panel will only consider applications from GMC registered practitioners who are listed on the GMC’s Specialist Register. The panel will not accept applications directly from members of the public or from general practitioners.
The expert panel will assess applications for special licences to prescribe cannabis based medicinal products and provide recommendations to the Home Secretary and the Health Secretary for Northern Ireland within 2 to 4 weeks of the submission of a correct and complete application. The Minister will then decide whether a licence should be granted. Provision for cases to be processed more quickly is possible, by convening of a virtual panel comprising a minimum of four members.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is his Department's policy that EU residents who are acting as carers and will have been living in the UK lawfully and continuously for five years by 29 March 2019 will be considered as workers and able to apply for settled-status.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
We agreed with the EU that the eligibility criteria for UK settled status will be the same as, or more favourable than, those set out in the Free Movement Directive for acquiring permanent residence.
As a matter of domestic policy, we have decided that the main requirement for eligibility under the settlement scheme will be continuous residence in the UK. Applicants will not need to demonstrate that they met the relevant requirements in the Free Movement Directive as to permitted activity.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it his policy that EU residents who have disabilities and (a) have not been able to work, (b) have not worked sufficiently or continuously and (c) who might never work due to their disabilities but who will have been living in the UK lawfully and continuously for five years by 29 March 2019 will be able to apply for settled status.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
We agreed with the EU that the eligibility criteria for UK settled status will be the same as, or more favourable than, those set out in the Free Movement Directive for acquiring permanent residence.
As a matter of domestic policy, we have decided that the main requirement for eligibility under the settlement scheme will be continuous residence in the UK. Applicants will not need to demonstrate that they met the relevant requirements in the Free Movement Directive as to permitted activity.
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 he will make it his policy to revoke the British citizenship held by Asma al-Assad.
Answered by Ben Wallace
I do not comment on individual cases.
The Home Secretary can deprive individuals of their British citizenship where it is conducive to the public good to do 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, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of expanding the family reunion scheme for Syrian refugees.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
Syrian Refugees in the UK have the same family reunion rights as all those granted refugee leave or humanitarian protection in the UK. Our Refugee Family Reunion rules are consistent for all nationalities.
Our family reunion policy allows immediate pre-flight family members of those granted protection here to reunite with Refugees in the UK. The Immigration Rules also provide for relatives with protection in the UK to sponsor children in serious and compelling circumstances. In addition, there is provision in the policy to grant visas outside the Rules in exceptional circumstances, which caters for extended family members who otherwise do not qualify under the Rules, for example, those fleeing conflict zones such as Syria who are unable to live safely anywhere else. All those granted family reunion visas have the right to work, study and to access benefits.
We are listening carefully to concerns raised on this issue and are currently reviewing our approach to family reunion as part of the Government’s wider asylum and resettlement strategy. We continue to follow the passage of two Private Members’ Bills on refugee family reunion closely and will continue our productive discussions in this area.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is her policy that EU citizens who have indefinite leave to remain will have to apply for settled status.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
EU citizens with indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK will not need to apply for UK settled status once the UK has left the European Union (EU). Their incumbent rights and privileges will not be affected by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
However, where such individuals are also covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, they might find it useful to apply to the EU Exit Settlement Scheme to obtain updated documentation which they can use to demonstrate their rights. There will be no application fee for settled status where an applicant has documentary evidence that they have valid indefinite leave to remain.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to publish its report on Pakistan covering immigration and political and human rights.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
We no longer publish comprehensive country reports covering all aspects of human rights in that country. Instead, we produce more focussed topic-specific reports called Country Policy and Information Notes (CPINs) designed to address the most common and/or complex issues raised in protection claims in the UK.
A list of our current products on Pakistan is available on the Gov.Uk website, these are updated as-and-when required. We are currently updating our CPIN on Ahmadis in Pakistan and we anticipate this will be published by the end of May.