Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what help her Department provides for workers who have travelled to the UK on the agricultural Seasonal Worker visa scheme and have their employment ended after a short period.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Home Office is unable to comment on hypothetical scenarios, each individual case will be considered on its own merits and in accordance with the immigration rules and guidance in place at the time.
As the published guidance states Seasonal Workers are permitted to work for more than one employer and it is the responsibility of the scheme operator to match workers with a suitable employer.
The Scheme Operators are responsible for managing all aspects of the recruitment and placement of workers on UK farms and ensuring their welfare in the UK. This includes ensuring ethical recruitment practices, in line with Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority regulations, and that workers are fully supported throughout their stay.
The Home Office closely monitors the scheme operators to ensure they are complying with their sponsor duties. Non-compliance with the guidance could result in the revocation of their sponsor license.
Seasonal Workers receive the same protections under UK law as resident workers, including employment laws. Such laws are enforced by the relevant regulator.
The Single Enforcement Body, lead by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, is a substantial organisational change and we are making sure all aspects have been considered. The new body requires primary legislation so timing depends on the Parliamentary timetable.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what help her Department provides for workers who have travelled to the UK on the agricultural Seasonal Worker visa scheme who, following arrival in the UK, are told there is no work available.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Home Office is unable to comment on hypothetical scenarios, each individual case will be considered on its own merits and in accordance with the immigration rules and guidance in place at the time.
As the published guidance states Seasonal Workers are permitted to work for more than one employer and it is the responsibility of the scheme operator to match workers with a suitable employer.
The Scheme Operators are responsible for managing all aspects of the recruitment and placement of workers on UK farms and ensuring their welfare in the UK. This includes ensuring ethical recruitment practices, in line with Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority regulations, and that workers are fully supported throughout their stay.
The Home Office closely monitors the scheme operators to ensure they are complying with their sponsor duties. Non-compliance with the guidance could result in the revocation of their sponsor license.
Seasonal Workers receive the same protections under UK law as resident workers, including employment laws. Such laws are enforced by the relevant regulator.
The Single Enforcement Body, lead by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, is a substantial organisational change and we are making sure all aspects have been considered. The new body requires primary legislation so timing depends on the Parliamentary timetable.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department provides any help to find a new sponsor and travel for workers who have applied and been granted entry clearance to the UK on an agricultural Seasonal Worker visa but whose sponsor or Scheme Operator loses their licence before the worker travels to the UK; and whether such workers can claim for payments made for visas and travel.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Home Office is unable to comment on hypothetical scenarios, each individual case will be considered on its own merits and in accordance with the immigration rules and guidance in place at the time.
As the published guidance states Seasonal Workers are permitted to work for more than one employer and it is the responsibility of the scheme operator to match workers with a suitable employer.
The Scheme Operators are responsible for managing all aspects of the recruitment and placement of workers on UK farms and ensuring their welfare in the UK. This includes ensuring ethical recruitment practices, in line with Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority regulations, and that workers are fully supported throughout their stay.
The Home Office closely monitors the scheme operators to ensure they are complying with their sponsor duties. Non-compliance with the guidance could result in the revocation of their sponsor license.
Seasonal Workers receive the same protections under UK law as resident workers, including employment laws. Such laws are enforced by the relevant regulator.
The Single Enforcement Body, lead by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, is a substantial organisational change and we are making sure all aspects have been considered. The new body requires primary legislation so timing depends on the Parliamentary timetable.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress her Department has made on the deportations of members of the Rochdale Grooming Gang; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
This Government has always been clear that the crimes committed by the Rochdale child sexual exploitation group, who preyed on the young and vulnerable, have no place in our society.
We are determined to pursue all legal options against these perpetrators, to protect the victims of these appalling crimes and a make our communities safer.
While we understand the public interest in these cases, we do not routinely comment on individual cases. We will continue to keep the victims informed through the proper channels.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how often the Investigatory Powers Commissioner's Office inspects the work of the National Crime Agency; and whether any concerns have arisen during those inspections in the last three years.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
IPCO carries out an inspection for each of the different powers utilised by the NCA at least once a year, though some powers are inspected more often. Following each inspection, feedback is provided in a detailed report to the public authority, with issues of note being set out in the Annual Report in the section on Law Enforcement Agencies and the Police.
The annual reports for years up until 2020 can be found on the IPCO website here: Annual Reports – IPCO. The Annual Report for 2021 has not yet been published but is due to be released before the end of the year. IPCO’s Annual Reports are subject to a rigorous cross-government clearance process to ensure no information is included which might be injurious to national security, and as such inspection reports are not released outside of this process.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the National Crime Agency’s website and media reports, whether the National Crime Agency has taken steps to ensure (a) training of and (b) assistance with the collection of intelligence to Colombian officials does not endanger (i) human rights defenders, (ii) opposition politicians and (iii) journalists in that country, including through (A) potentially unwarranted surveillance and (B) targeted reprisals.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The NCA works with law enforcement partners around the world. In Colombia, the Agency works with the Colombian National Police and the Office of the Attorney General of Colombia. This activity is focused on reducing the threat to the UK from the cocaine trade in Colombia and the region, as well as disrupting the money laundering and other criminal economies linked to drugs trafficking and other organised crime.
When cooperating and sharing intelligence with its international law enforcement partners, the National Crime Agency must comply with the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance guidance, which enables assessments to be made about the human rights and reputational risks of international security and justice work undertaken by the UK. It is also subject to the Principles relating to the detention and interviewing of detainees overseas and the passing and receipt of intelligence relating to detainees.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the National Crime Agency is able to (a) vet policing personnel to be trained in Colombia and (b) monitor policing personnel already trained in Colombia to ensure they are not responsible for any future serious human rights violations including extra-judicial killings, disappearances and torture.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The NCA works with law enforcement partners around the world. In Colombia, the Agency works with the Colombian National Police and the Office of the Attorney General of Colombia. This activity is focused on reducing the threat to the UK from the cocaine trade in Colombia and the region, as well as disrupting the money laundering and other criminal economies linked to drugs trafficking and other organised crime.
When cooperating and sharing intelligence with its international law enforcement partners, the National Crime Agency must comply with the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance guidance, which enables assessments to be made about the human rights and reputational risks of international security and justice work undertaken by the UK. It is also subject to the Principles relating to the detention and interviewing of detainees overseas and the passing and receipt of intelligence relating to detainees.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how the overseas work of the National Crime Agency is (a) monitored and (b) evaluated in order to assess its effectiveness in combatting drug trafficking and drug use in the UK.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The UK’s drugs strategy, published in December 2021, sets out the role of the NCA in tackling drugs supply and misuse in the UK and overseas.
In June 2022, the government published guidance for local partners in delivering the strategy which included the National Combating Drugs Outcomes Framework. These high-level outcomes will provide a clear focus for national and local accountability. We will monitor the effectiveness the NCA and other partners in delivering the new strategy against progress towards these key outcomes including disruption of criminal groups involved in drugs supply. Central oversight of progress against the strategy is led by the cross-government Joint Combating Drugs Unit.
Additionally, the NCA monitors its effectiveness using a performance outcomes framework, which assures delivery of the wider strategic priorities set by the Home Secretary. NCA performance is reported to parliament and publicly through its Annual Report and Accounts.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what safeguards are in place to ensure that the National Crime Agency’s (a) cooperation and (b) intelligence sharing with officials and bodies in FCDO Human Rights Priority Countries is carried out without (i) violating the UK’s international human rights obligations, (ii) undermining the UK’s policy to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances and (iii) endangering people undertaking lawful activities, including as a result of potentially unwarranted surveillance.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
It is vital that the Government’s work on security and justice overseas is in accordance with our obligations under international law, including international human rights law.
When cooperating and sharing intelligence with its international law enforcement partners, the National Crime Agency must comply with the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance guidance, which enables assessments to be made about the human rights and reputational risks of international security and justice work undertaken by the UK.
It is also subject to the Principles relating to the detention and interviewing of detainees overseas and the passing and receipt of intelligence relating to detainees.
Asked by: Tony Lloyd (Labour - Rochdale)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department of 22 November 2021, Official Report, column 9, what plans she has to meet the hon. Member for Rochdale.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Home Secretary has been in contact with MP Tony Lloyd to discuss this important issue and will arrange a meeting when the diary allows.