Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has taken recent steps with Cabinet colleagues to help ensure that children of refugees are able to access (a) schools and (b) colleges.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The department has contributed to the Home Office welcome pack for adults, who have recently been granted refugee or Humanitarian Protection status, to support them in applying for a place at school or college. The pack has been translated into several languages. The department has also contributed similar information to specific welcome packs for arrivals from Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Ukraine.
The department provides online resources for local authorities and schools which makes it clear that refugees and asylum seeker children and young adults have a right to access schools and colleges. Local authorities are required to ensure all children living in their areas receive an appropriate education.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of trends in the number of people seeking asylum in the UK in the last five years; and what proportion of people seeking asylum in the UK in the last five years have done so through safe routes.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Home Office publishes data on asylum applications in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of asylum applications received are published in table Asy_D01 of the asylum and resettlement detailed datasets. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates to the year ending June 2022. Additionally, the Home Office publishes a high-level overview of the data in the ‘summary tables’. The ‘contents’ sheet contains an overview of all available data on asylum and resettlement.
The publication does not include information on how asylum seekers travelled to the UK. Some, but not all, asylum seekers arrive via small boats. Information on small boat arrivals who claim asylum can be found in the ‘How many people do we grant asylum or protection to?’ chapter of the Immigration Statistics quarterly release.
Asylum is separate to the following ‘safe and legal entry routes’:
Ukraine Family, Sponsorship and Extension Scheme visas
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government’s visa support for young people from Hong Kong will extend to allowing those people to include years spent in the UK on a student visa toward the five year route to settlement for British National (Overseas) visa holders.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
On 24 February 2022, the Government announced in a Written Ministerial Statement a change to the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) route which will allow adult children of BN(O) status holders born on or after the 1 July 1997, who are currently unable to apply for the BN(O) route independently to do so. The statement is available at: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
The change to allow adult children of BN(O) status holders born on or after 1 July 1997 to apply to the route independently of their parents is currently scheduled to come into effect this Autumn at which point further information, including full eligibility criteria, will be published on GOV.UK.
Under the new provisions, children born on or after 1 July 1997, whose deceased parent held BN(O) status, will be able to qualify for the route, providing they meet all other requirements for the route. Applicants will need to show evidence of the BN(O) status of at least one parent.
As is the case on the BN(O) route now, those who enter the UK with a Student or Visitor visa will be able to apply to switch into the BN(O) route. They will need to apply before the expiry of their current visa or grant of permission. Under the Immigration Rules, individuals applying for the BN(O) route must not be in breach of immigration laws. This includes overstaying, except where certain limited circumstances apply as set out paragraph 39E of the Immigration Rules.
Only time spent in the UK on either the BN(O) route or another route which leads to settlement can count towards the five-year qualifying period for settlement as a BN(O), with the most recent grant of permission required to be on the BN(O) route. Time spent in the UK on a Student visa does not count towards settlement.
All applicants to the BN(O) route need to demonstrate they can maintain and accommodate themselves and their family members for at least six months without access to public funds. Applicants can rely on credible offers of financial support and/or accommodation from a third party (for example, a relative or friend) to meet this requirement.
Individuals with an outstanding asylum claim must write to the Home Office to withdraw their claim before they can apply to the BN(O) route. Further information is available here: Withdrawing asylum applications - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the process is for eligible young people from Hong Kong currently in the UK asylum system to transfer to the British Nationals (Overseas) visa from November 2022 onward.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
On 24 February 2022, the Government announced in a Written Ministerial Statement a change to the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) route which will allow adult children of BN(O) status holders born on or after the 1 July 1997, who are currently unable to apply for the BN(O) route independently to do so. The statement is available at: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
The change to allow adult children of BN(O) status holders born on or after 1 July 1997 to apply to the route independently of their parents is currently scheduled to come into effect this Autumn at which point further information, including full eligibility criteria, will be published on GOV.UK.
Under the new provisions, children born on or after 1 July 1997, whose deceased parent held BN(O) status, will be able to qualify for the route, providing they meet all other requirements for the route. Applicants will need to show evidence of the BN(O) status of at least one parent.
As is the case on the BN(O) route now, those who enter the UK with a Student or Visitor visa will be able to apply to switch into the BN(O) route. They will need to apply before the expiry of their current visa or grant of permission. Under the Immigration Rules, individuals applying for the BN(O) route must not be in breach of immigration laws. This includes overstaying, except where certain limited circumstances apply as set out paragraph 39E of the Immigration Rules.
Only time spent in the UK on either the BN(O) route or another route which leads to settlement can count towards the five-year qualifying period for settlement as a BN(O), with the most recent grant of permission required to be on the BN(O) route. Time spent in the UK on a Student visa does not count towards settlement.
All applicants to the BN(O) route need to demonstrate they can maintain and accommodate themselves and their family members for at least six months without access to public funds. Applicants can rely on credible offers of financial support and/or accommodation from a third party (for example, a relative or friend) to meet this requirement.
Individuals with an outstanding asylum claim must write to the Home Office to withdraw their claim before they can apply to the BN(O) route. Further information is available here: Withdrawing asylum applications - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether young people from Hong Kong who are currently in the UK on visitor leave will be able to transition into the British National (Overseas) visa if they are eligible when it extends to them in November 2022.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
On 24 February 2022, the Government announced in a Written Ministerial Statement a change to the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) route which will allow adult children of BN(O) status holders born on or after the 1 July 1997, who are currently unable to apply for the BN(O) route independently to do so. The statement is available at: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
The change to allow adult children of BN(O) status holders born on or after 1 July 1997 to apply to the route independently of their parents is currently scheduled to come into effect this Autumn at which point further information, including full eligibility criteria, will be published on GOV.UK.
Under the new provisions, children born on or after 1 July 1997, whose deceased parent held BN(O) status, will be able to qualify for the route, providing they meet all other requirements for the route. Applicants will need to show evidence of the BN(O) status of at least one parent.
As is the case on the BN(O) route now, those who enter the UK with a Student or Visitor visa will be able to apply to switch into the BN(O) route. They will need to apply before the expiry of their current visa or grant of permission. Under the Immigration Rules, individuals applying for the BN(O) route must not be in breach of immigration laws. This includes overstaying, except where certain limited circumstances apply as set out paragraph 39E of the Immigration Rules.
Only time spent in the UK on either the BN(O) route or another route which leads to settlement can count towards the five-year qualifying period for settlement as a BN(O), with the most recent grant of permission required to be on the BN(O) route. Time spent in the UK on a Student visa does not count towards settlement.
All applicants to the BN(O) route need to demonstrate they can maintain and accommodate themselves and their family members for at least six months without access to public funds. Applicants can rely on credible offers of financial support and/or accommodation from a third party (for example, a relative or friend) to meet this requirement.
Individuals with an outstanding asylum claim must write to the Home Office to withdraw their claim before they can apply to the BN(O) route. Further information is available here: Withdrawing asylum applications - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether young people from Hong Kong who have overstayed their current visa leave out of fear of returning to Hong Kong due to their political activity will be able to switch into the British National (Overseas) visa from within the UK.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
On 24 February 2022, the Government announced in a Written Ministerial Statement a change to the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) route which will allow adult children of BN(O) status holders born on or after the 1 July 1997, who are currently unable to apply for the BN(O) route independently to do so. The statement is available at: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
The change to allow adult children of BN(O) status holders born on or after 1 July 1997 to apply to the route independently of their parents is currently scheduled to come into effect this Autumn at which point further information, including full eligibility criteria, will be published on GOV.UK.
Under the new provisions, children born on or after 1 July 1997, whose deceased parent held BN(O) status, will be able to qualify for the route, providing they meet all other requirements for the route. Applicants will need to show evidence of the BN(O) status of at least one parent.
As is the case on the BN(O) route now, those who enter the UK with a Student or Visitor visa will be able to apply to switch into the BN(O) route. They will need to apply before the expiry of their current visa or grant of permission. Under the Immigration Rules, individuals applying for the BN(O) route must not be in breach of immigration laws. This includes overstaying, except where certain limited circumstances apply as set out paragraph 39E of the Immigration Rules.
Only time spent in the UK on either the BN(O) route or another route which leads to settlement can count towards the five-year qualifying period for settlement as a BN(O), with the most recent grant of permission required to be on the BN(O) route. Time spent in the UK on a Student visa does not count towards settlement.
All applicants to the BN(O) route need to demonstrate they can maintain and accommodate themselves and their family members for at least six months without access to public funds. Applicants can rely on credible offers of financial support and/or accommodation from a third party (for example, a relative or friend) to meet this requirement.
Individuals with an outstanding asylum claim must write to the Home Office to withdraw their claim before they can apply to the BN(O) route. Further information is available here: Withdrawing asylum applications - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the British National (Overseas) visa extension will apply to young people whose British National (Overseas) parents are now both deceased.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
On 24 February 2022, the Government announced in a Written Ministerial Statement a change to the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) route which will allow adult children of BN(O) status holders born on or after the 1 July 1997, who are currently unable to apply for the BN(O) route independently to do so. The statement is available at: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
The change to allow adult children of BN(O) status holders born on or after 1 July 1997 to apply to the route independently of their parents is currently scheduled to come into effect this Autumn at which point further information, including full eligibility criteria, will be published on GOV.UK.
Under the new provisions, children born on or after 1 July 1997, whose deceased parent held BN(O) status, will be able to qualify for the route, providing they meet all other requirements for the route. Applicants will need to show evidence of the BN(O) status of at least one parent.
As is the case on the BN(O) route now, those who enter the UK with a Student or Visitor visa will be able to apply to switch into the BN(O) route. They will need to apply before the expiry of their current visa or grant of permission. Under the Immigration Rules, individuals applying for the BN(O) route must not be in breach of immigration laws. This includes overstaying, except where certain limited circumstances apply as set out paragraph 39E of the Immigration Rules.
Only time spent in the UK on either the BN(O) route or another route which leads to settlement can count towards the five-year qualifying period for settlement as a BN(O), with the most recent grant of permission required to be on the BN(O) route. Time spent in the UK on a Student visa does not count towards settlement.
All applicants to the BN(O) route need to demonstrate they can maintain and accommodate themselves and their family members for at least six months without access to public funds. Applicants can rely on credible offers of financial support and/or accommodation from a third party (for example, a relative or friend) to meet this requirement.
Individuals with an outstanding asylum claim must write to the Home Office to withdraw their claim before they can apply to the BN(O) route. Further information is available here: Withdrawing asylum applications - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to allow the financial requirements of 18–25 year-old British National (Overseas) visa applicants to be sponsored by a third-party.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
On 24 February 2022, the Government announced in a Written Ministerial Statement a change to the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) route which will allow adult children of BN(O) status holders born on or after the 1 July 1997, who are currently unable to apply for the BN(O) route independently to do so. The statement is available at: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
The change to allow adult children of BN(O) status holders born on or after 1 July 1997 to apply to the route independently of their parents is currently scheduled to come into effect this Autumn at which point further information, including full eligibility criteria, will be published on GOV.UK.
Under the new provisions, children born on or after 1 July 1997, whose deceased parent held BN(O) status, will be able to qualify for the route, providing they meet all other requirements for the route. Applicants will need to show evidence of the BN(O) status of at least one parent.
As is the case on the BN(O) route now, those who enter the UK with a Student or Visitor visa will be able to apply to switch into the BN(O) route. They will need to apply before the expiry of their current visa or grant of permission. Under the Immigration Rules, individuals applying for the BN(O) route must not be in breach of immigration laws. This includes overstaying, except where certain limited circumstances apply as set out paragraph 39E of the Immigration Rules.
Only time spent in the UK on either the BN(O) route or another route which leads to settlement can count towards the five-year qualifying period for settlement as a BN(O), with the most recent grant of permission required to be on the BN(O) route. Time spent in the UK on a Student visa does not count towards settlement.
All applicants to the BN(O) route need to demonstrate they can maintain and accommodate themselves and their family members for at least six months without access to public funds. Applicants can rely on credible offers of financial support and/or accommodation from a third party (for example, a relative or friend) to meet this requirement.
Individuals with an outstanding asylum claim must write to the Home Office to withdraw their claim before they can apply to the BN(O) route. Further information is available here: Withdrawing asylum applications - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she will publish (a) a timetable for the introduction of the British National (Overseas) visa extension to young people from Hong Kong and (b) eligibility criteria for that visa extension.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
On 24 February 2022, the Government announced in a Written Ministerial Statement a change to the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) route which will allow adult children of BN(O) status holders born on or after the 1 July 1997, who are currently unable to apply for the BN(O) route independently to do so. The statement is available at: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
The change to allow adult children of BN(O) status holders born on or after 1 July 1997 to apply to the route independently of their parents is currently scheduled to come into effect this Autumn at which point further information, including full eligibility criteria, will be published on GOV.UK.
Under the new provisions, children born on or after 1 July 1997, whose deceased parent held BN(O) status, will be able to qualify for the route, providing they meet all other requirements for the route. Applicants will need to show evidence of the BN(O) status of at least one parent.
As is the case on the BN(O) route now, those who enter the UK with a Student or Visitor visa will be able to apply to switch into the BN(O) route. They will need to apply before the expiry of their current visa or grant of permission. Under the Immigration Rules, individuals applying for the BN(O) route must not be in breach of immigration laws. This includes overstaying, except where certain limited circumstances apply as set out paragraph 39E of the Immigration Rules.
Only time spent in the UK on either the BN(O) route or another route which leads to settlement can count towards the five-year qualifying period for settlement as a BN(O), with the most recent grant of permission required to be on the BN(O) route. Time spent in the UK on a Student visa does not count towards settlement.
All applicants to the BN(O) route need to demonstrate they can maintain and accommodate themselves and their family members for at least six months without access to public funds. Applicants can rely on credible offers of financial support and/or accommodation from a third party (for example, a relative or friend) to meet this requirement.
Individuals with an outstanding asylum claim must write to the Home Office to withdraw their claim before they can apply to the BN(O) route. Further information is available here: Withdrawing asylum applications - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will take steps to help ensure that housing proposals reflect the potential need to provide additional homes to support refugees and asylum seekers amid global instability.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The UK has a long and proud history of welcoming migrants including recent arrivals from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria and Hong Kong.
Our respective departments work closely to ensure that those whom we welcome to our country have access to the support and services they need, including a place to live. The Secretary of State for DLUHC launched the Homes for Ukraine Scheme on 14 March 2022 in support of Ukrainian arrivals.
Other schemes and support are available for refugees fleeing conflicts in other parts of the world.
As has been the case under successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.