Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential vulnerability of people who supported British aims in Afghanistan to criminal smugglers and traffickers.
Answered by Kevin Foster
We are immensely grateful for Afghan Citizens who supported UK aims and who may be at risk. As a result, in addition to our Afghanistan Relocations and Assistance policy, we relocated a number of individuals who supported UK aims under Op Pitting; and is why the Afghan Citizen’s Resettlement Scheme will prioritise those who have assisted the UK efforts in Afghanistan and stood up for values such as democracy, women’s rights, freedom of speech, and rule of law.
The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme launched on 6 January 2022, and will provide up to 20,000 Afghan women, children and others at risk with a safe and legal route to resettle in the UK. It demonstrates the Government’s New Plan for Immigration in action, as we expand and strengthen our safe and legal routes to the UK, for those in need of protection.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of giving asylum seekers the ability to claim asylum at British embassies across the globe.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The UK has a proud record of providing protection for people who need it, in accordance with our obligations under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights.
However, there is no provision within our Immigration Rules for someone to be allowed to travel to the UK to seek asylum or temporary refuge. Whilst we sympathise with people in many difficult situations around the world, we are not bound to consider asylum claims in British Embassies or High Commissions from the very large numbers of people overseas who might like to come here. Opening an opportunity to claim asylum would also make the operation of these locations impractical if large numbers sought to do so.
Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – that is the fastest route to safety.
We already welcome vulnerable people in need of protection to the UK through our resettlement schemes. These schemes have provided safe and legal routes for tens of thousands of people to start new lives in the UK. Through these routes we have resettled more refugees than any EU country since 2015. They include the UK Resettlement Scheme, the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme, and the Nationality and Borders Bill will establish in law safe and legal routes.
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of simplifying the process for undocumented migrants to regularise their immigration status.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Government remains committed to an immigration policy which welcomes people to the UK through safe and legal routes but deters illegal immigration.
There are several options available for those in the UK without lawful leave to regularise their immigration status. The Immigration Rules set out the requirements to be met to qualify for a right to remain which provides clarity for applicants and decision makers alike. There are also discretionary policies for leave to be granted outside the Immigration Rules in exceptional circumstances.
The Home Office has accepted the Law Commission’s report on the simplification of the Immigration Rules and is in the process of revising and simplifying the immigration rules. We are currently in the process of simplifying routes such as private and family life which are open to undocumented migrants.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Southwark (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken following the remarks by the High Commissioner for Jamaica on 4 November: “from a human rights perspective I am deeply concerned about cases in which persons are being removed having lived in the UK since childhood and have no known relations in Jamaica or familiarity with Jamaica”.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
We are committed to an immigration policy which welcomes and celebrates people here legally, but which deters illegal immigration, prevents the abuse of benefits and services, removes immigration offenders and foreign national offenders from the UK and disrupts the Organised Crime Groups that prey on the vulnerable.
We worked very closely with the authorities in Jamaica and the Jamaican High Commission in the UK in the planning of this charter flight.
The Government is clear that foreign nationals who abuse our hospitality by committing crimes should be in no doubt of our determination to deport them. Under the UK Borders Act 2007, the Home Secretary is required by law to make a deportation order in respect of a foreign national convicted in the UK and sentenced to at least 12 months’ imprisonment, unless an exception applies.
A person’s age upon arrival to the UK or length of time they have lived in the UK are not exceptions to automatic deportation but may be relevant factors, as well as the strength of their social, cultural and family ties in the UK, in considering whether a human rights exception applies. All human rights claims and claims to have been a victim of modern slavery are fully considered and determined before deportation including, where applicable, via the Courts.
The Home Office supports two Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Jamaica who provide re-integration support to those who are deported. This includes initial reception support and longer-term support including training and skills to enable them to find employment within Jamaica. They can also provide emotional and wellbeing support to those who need it. The UK is one of the few countries in the world who provide this support.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help prevent (a) county lines and (b) other drug dealing operations to liaise online.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
This Government is determined to crack down on the county lines gangs who are exploiting our children and have a devastating impact on our communities. That is why we are investing a dedicated £40m this year to tackle drugs supply and county lines and surge our activity against these ruthless gangs bringing our total dedicated investment to over £65m since November 2019.
Tackling drugs supply and county lines is a key priority for police and law enforcement agencies who receive core funding to respond to a range of serious and organised crime threats, including drugs supply. In total, the Home Office budget for 21/22 is £14.2bn, which includes funding for policing and fire, securing the borders and controlling immigration and issuing passports and visas.
The £40m investment provided this financial year has allowed us to expand and build upon our successful County Lines Programme which, since launching in November 2019, has already seen more than 1,500 lines closed, over 7,400 arrests, £4.3 million in cash and significant quantities of drugs seized, and more than 4,000 vulnerable people safeguarded.
Our programme investment includes funding the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre to improve the intelligence picture and co-ordinate the national law enforcement response. We have also increased disruption on the rail networks through the British Transport Police’s dedicated County Lines Taskforce and directly fund police intensification in the top three exporting areas (the Metropolitan Police Service, Merseyside Police, and West Midlands Police). In addition, this year we have established a dedicated fund to help local police forces tackle the scourge of county lines. We are also funding specialist support for young people at risk of county lines exploitation and their families.
Lastly, we are funding the MPS-led Social Media Hub which brings together a dedicated team of police officers and staff who work with Social Media platforms to tackle gang related serious violence perpetrated online, including county lines activity.
County lines drug dealing is a domestic issue, so our engagement with international partners on this is limited. However, we engage with the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime and other international partners on a range of drug policy issues.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with international partners on tackling county lines drugs gangs.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
This Government is determined to crack down on the county lines gangs who are exploiting our children and have a devastating impact on our communities. That is why we are investing a dedicated £40m this year to tackle drugs supply and county lines and surge our activity against these ruthless gangs bringing our total dedicated investment to over £65m since November 2019.
Tackling drugs supply and county lines is a key priority for police and law enforcement agencies who receive core funding to respond to a range of serious and organised crime threats, including drugs supply. In total, the Home Office budget for 21/22 is £14.2bn, which includes funding for policing and fire, securing the borders and controlling immigration and issuing passports and visas.
The £40m investment provided this financial year has allowed us to expand and build upon our successful County Lines Programme which, since launching in November 2019, has already seen more than 1,500 lines closed, over 7,400 arrests, £4.3 million in cash and significant quantities of drugs seized, and more than 4,000 vulnerable people safeguarded.
Our programme investment includes funding the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre to improve the intelligence picture and co-ordinate the national law enforcement response. We have also increased disruption on the rail networks through the British Transport Police’s dedicated County Lines Taskforce and directly fund police intensification in the top three exporting areas (the Metropolitan Police Service, Merseyside Police, and West Midlands Police). In addition, this year we have established a dedicated fund to help local police forces tackle the scourge of county lines. We are also funding specialist support for young people at risk of county lines exploitation and their families.
Lastly, we are funding the MPS-led Social Media Hub which brings together a dedicated team of police officers and staff who work with Social Media platforms to tackle gang related serious violence perpetrated online, including county lines activity.
County lines drug dealing is a domestic issue, so our engagement with international partners on this is limited. However, we engage with the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime and other international partners on a range of drug policy issues.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much and what proportion of her Department's budget is allocated to tackling county lines drugs gangs.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
This Government is determined to crack down on the county lines gangs who are exploiting our children and have a devastating impact on our communities. That is why we are investing a dedicated £40m this year to tackle drugs supply and county lines and surge our activity against these ruthless gangs bringing our total dedicated investment to over £65m since November 2019.
Tackling drugs supply and county lines is a key priority for police and law enforcement agencies who receive core funding to respond to a range of serious and organised crime threats, including drugs supply. In total, the Home Office budget for 21/22 is £14.2bn, which includes funding for policing and fire, securing the borders and controlling immigration and issuing passports and visas.
The £40m investment provided this financial year has allowed us to expand and build upon our successful County Lines Programme which, since launching in November 2019, has already seen more than 1,500 lines closed, over 7,400 arrests, £4.3 million in cash and significant quantities of drugs seized, and more than 4,000 vulnerable people safeguarded.
Our programme investment includes funding the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre to improve the intelligence picture and co-ordinate the national law enforcement response. We have also increased disruption on the rail networks through the British Transport Police’s dedicated County Lines Taskforce and directly fund police intensification in the top three exporting areas (the Metropolitan Police Service, Merseyside Police, and West Midlands Police). In addition, this year we have established a dedicated fund to help local police forces tackle the scourge of county lines. We are also funding specialist support for young people at risk of county lines exploitation and their families.
Lastly, we are funding the MPS-led Social Media Hub which brings together a dedicated team of police officers and staff who work with Social Media platforms to tackle gang related serious violence perpetrated online, including county lines activity.
County lines drug dealing is a domestic issue, so our engagement with international partners on this is limited. However, we engage with the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime and other international partners on a range of drug policy issues.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what operational support her Department provides for police forces to (a) identify and (b) tackle county lines drugs gangs.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
This Government is determined to crack down on the county lines gangs who are exploiting our children and have a devastating impact on our communities. That is why we are investing a dedicated £40m this year to tackle drugs supply and county lines and surge our activity against these ruthless gangs bringing our total dedicated investment to over £65m since November 2019.
Tackling drugs supply and county lines is a key priority for police and law enforcement agencies who receive core funding to respond to a range of serious and organised crime threats, including drugs supply. In total, the Home Office budget for 21/22 is £14.2bn, which includes funding for policing and fire, securing the borders and controlling immigration and issuing passports and visas.
The £40m investment provided this financial year has allowed us to expand and build upon our successful County Lines Programme which, since launching in November 2019, has already seen more than 1,500 lines closed, over 7,400 arrests, £4.3 million in cash and significant quantities of drugs seized, and more than 4,000 vulnerable people safeguarded.
Our programme investment includes funding the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre to improve the intelligence picture and co-ordinate the national law enforcement response. We have also increased disruption on the rail networks through the British Transport Police’s dedicated County Lines Taskforce and directly fund police intensification in the top three exporting areas (the Metropolitan Police Service, Merseyside Police, and West Midlands Police). In addition, this year we have established a dedicated fund to help local police forces tackle the scourge of county lines. We are also funding specialist support for young people at risk of county lines exploitation and their families.
Lastly, we are funding the MPS-led Social Media Hub which brings together a dedicated team of police officers and staff who work with Social Media platforms to tackle gang related serious violence perpetrated online, including county lines activity.
County lines drug dealing is a domestic issue, so our engagement with international partners on this is limited. However, we engage with the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime and other international partners on a range of drug policy issues.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to tackle county lines drugs gangs.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
This Government is determined to crack down on the county lines gangs who are exploiting our children and have a devastating impact on our communities. That is why we are investing a dedicated £40m this year to tackle drugs supply and county lines and surge our activity against these ruthless gangs bringing our total dedicated investment to over £65m since November 2019.
Tackling drugs supply and county lines is a key priority for police and law enforcement agencies who receive core funding to respond to a range of serious and organised crime threats, including drugs supply. In total, the Home Office budget for 21/22 is £14.2bn, which includes funding for policing and fire, securing the borders and controlling immigration and issuing passports and visas.
The £40m investment provided this financial year has allowed us to expand and build upon our successful County Lines Programme which, since launching in November 2019, has already seen more than 1,500 lines closed, over 7,400 arrests, £4.3 million in cash and significant quantities of drugs seized, and more than 4,000 vulnerable people safeguarded.
Our programme investment includes funding the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre to improve the intelligence picture and co-ordinate the national law enforcement response. We have also increased disruption on the rail networks through the British Transport Police’s dedicated County Lines Taskforce and directly fund police intensification in the top three exporting areas (the Metropolitan Police Service, Merseyside Police, and West Midlands Police). In addition, this year we have established a dedicated fund to help local police forces tackle the scourge of county lines. We are also funding specialist support for young people at risk of county lines exploitation and their families.
Lastly, we are funding the MPS-led Social Media Hub which brings together a dedicated team of police officers and staff who work with Social Media platforms to tackle gang related serious violence perpetrated online, including county lines activity.
County lines drug dealing is a domestic issue, so our engagement with international partners on this is limited. However, we engage with the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime and other international partners on a range of drug policy issues.
Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that people who are at risk of death or persecution due to their religion or belief are prioritised in the Afghan citizens' resettlement scheme.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Whilst the ACRS is not yet open, the policy statement published on gov.uk on 13 September sets out that the scheme will prioritise:
a) those who have assisted the UK efforts in Afghanistan and stood up for values such as democracy, women’s rights and freedom of speech, rule of law (for example, judges, women’s rights activists, journalists); and
b) vulnerable people, including women and girls at risk, and members of minority groups at risk (including ethnic and religious minorities and LGBT+).
We will work with UNHCR and other expert partners directly in the region to identify eligible people and bring them to the UK.
The policy statement sets out further information on the eligibility, prioritisation and referral of people for the ACRS, and is available at: