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Written Question
Immigration: Northern Ireland
Monday 20th January 2020

Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester, Gorton)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to protect the rights of families to reunite under the Dublin Regulation when the UK leaves the EU.

Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

When the UK leaves the EU, the UK will immediately cease participating in the Dublin III Regulation. We will continue to be bound by Dublin during the implementation period and under the Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 there is a ‘savings’ provision, such that any Dublin family reunion cases, which have entered the system before the end of the implementation period, will continue to be processed.

The Government also remains committed to seeking an agreement with the EU for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the EU to join family members in the UK, and vice versa, where it is in their best interests. The Government’s policy has not changed and protecting vulnerable children will remain our priority after we leave the EU. The new Clause 37 in the Withdrawal Agreement Bill reaffirms this commitment while clarifying the role of Parliament and Government in negotiations. Clause 37 places an obligation on the Government to lay a statement before Parliament on this matter.

The UK provides a safe and legal route to bring families of refugees together through its refugee family reunion policy. This allows a partner and children under 18 of those granted protection in the UK to join them here, if they formed part of the family unit before the sponsor fled their country. This route will not be affected when we leave the EU.

Additionally, Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules provides for family members wishing to enter or remain in the UK on the basis of their relationship with a family member who is a British citizen or settled in the UK, and those who are post-flight family of a person granted protection in the UK.


Written Question
Eggs
Monday 28th October 2019

Asked by: Jane Dodds (Liberal Democrat - Brecon and Radnorshire)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the egg industry.

Answered by George Eustice

We remain focused on facilitating a smooth and orderly withdrawal from the EU with a deal as soon as possible. If we do leave the EU with a deal, trade in the egg sector will continue with the EU and third countries as it does at present for the duration of the implementation period.

However, as a responsible Government, we have been preparing to minimise any disruption in the event of a no deal. Since the referendum over three years ago we have been meeting regularly with the egg industry to understand and anticipate the potential impacts of a no deal scenario on the sector. The UK has a high level of self-sufficiency in eggs; last year the UK was nearly 90% self-sufficient in its egg production. The UK is also a net importer of eggs, with the overwhelming majority of egg imports coming from the EU. In the event of no deal, EU imports will continue to enter the UK tariff-free. In relation to exports, last year approximately 40% of our exports of eggs (value) went to the EU. This accounts for 1.3% of our domestically produced eggs. In the event of a no deal EU departure these exports would face a tariff when going to the EU. As the UK would be classed as a ‘third country’ in the event of a no deal, there may be a period during which the UK cannot export eggs to the EU. This is because the EU may want to carry out an assessment called ‘an evaluation of equivalence’ of UK marketing standards.

We will be monitoring the market prior to and immediately after we leave the EU on 31 October and will be ready to intervene if necessary.


Written Question
Asylum: Families
Monday 7th October 2019

Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made toward securing the future of family reunion routes in negotiations with the EU; and whether the UK will continue to apply the Dublin III Regulation if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Answered by Brandon Lewis

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal we will continue to participate in the Dublin III Regulation, under which unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the EU currently reunite with family members in other EU Member States, during the implementation period.

The UK would cease participating in the Dublin III Regulation immediately if we were to leave the EU without a deal. However, the Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 makes a ‘saving’ such that any Dublin family reunion cases which have entered the system prior to exit day will continue to be processed in a no deal situation.

We want a close future partnership to tackle the shared challenges on asylum and illegal migration. Section 17 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 commits the Government to seek to negotiate an agreement with the EU which allows for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the EU to join family members lawfully present in the UK, where it is in their best interests. This commitment stands whether we leave the EU with or without a deal. Effecting transfers relies on an agreement being in place and we endeavour to negotiate such an agreement as soon as possible.

In either a deal or no deal scenario, children will still be able to apply to join family members in the UK who benefit from international protection under the UK’s refugee family reunion provisions under the Immigration Rules.


Written Question
Asylum: Families
Monday 7th October 2019

Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester, Gorton)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on families who are eligible to be reunited under the provisions of the Dublin III Regulation.

Answered by Brandon Lewis

In a no-deal scenario, the UK would immediately cease participating in the Dublin III Regulation. However, under the Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 there is a ‘savings’ provision, where any Dublin family reunion cases, which have entered the system prior to exit day, will continue to be processed. The UK is also committed, under section 17 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, to seek to negotiate an agreement with the EU which allows for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the EU to join family members lawfully present in the UK, where it is in their best interests. This commitment stands whether we leave the EU with or without a deal.

The UK provides a safe and legal route to bring families of refugees together through its refugee family reunion policy. This allows a partner and children under 18 of those granted protection in the UK to join them here, if they formed part of the family unit before the sponsor fled their country. This route will not be affected by EU Exit.

Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules provides for family members wishing to enter or remain in the UK on the basis of their relationship with a family member who is a British citizen or settled in the UK, and those who are post-flight family of a person granted protection in the UK. This route will also not be affected by EU Exit.


Written Question
Asylum: Families
Monday 7th October 2019

Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester, Gorton)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to protect the rights of families to reunite under the Dublin Regulation in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

Answered by Brandon Lewis

In a no-deal scenario, the UK would immediately cease participating in the Dublin III Regulation. However, under the Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 there is a ‘savings’ provision, where any Dublin family reunion cases, which have entered the system prior to exit day, will continue to be processed. The UK is also committed, under section 17 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, to seek to negotiate an agreement with the EU which allows for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the EU to join family members lawfully present in the UK, where it is in their best interests. This commitment stands whether we leave the EU with or without a deal.

The UK provides a safe and legal route to bring families of refugees together through its refugee family reunion policy. This allows a partner and children under 18 of those granted protection in the UK to join them here, if they formed part of the family unit before the sponsor fled their country. This route will not be affected by EU Exit.

Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules provides for family members wishing to enter or remain in the UK on the basis of their relationship with a family member who is a British citizen or settled in the UK, and those who are post-flight family of a person granted protection in the UK. This route will also not be affected by EU Exit.


Written Question
Asylum: Families
Monday 7th October 2019

Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester, Gorton)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that the ability of refugees and people seeking asylum to reunite with family members in the UK under the Dublin III Regulation will be safeguarded in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

Answered by Brandon Lewis

In a no-deal scenario, the UK would immediately cease participating in the Dublin III Regulation. However, under the Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 there is a ‘savings’ provision, where any Dublin family reunion cases, which have entered the system prior to exit day, will continue to be processed. The UK is also committed, under section 17 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, to seek to negotiate an agreement with the EU which allows for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the EU to join family members lawfully present in the UK, where it is in their best interests. This commitment stands whether we leave the EU with or without a deal.

The UK provides a safe and legal route to bring families of refugees together through its refugee family reunion policy. This allows a partner and children under 18 of those granted protection in the UK to join them here, if they formed part of the family unit before the sponsor fled their country. This route will not be affected by EU Exit.

Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules provides for family members wishing to enter or remain in the UK on the basis of their relationship with a family member who is a British citizen or settled in the UK, and those who are post-flight family of a person granted protection in the UK. This route will also not be affected by EU Exit.


Written Question
Immigration: EU Nationals
Thursday 5th September 2019

Asked by: Chris Leslie (The Independent Group for Change - Nottingham East)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria her Department plans to use to require non-UK EU citizens to undertake visa clearance prior to arrival in the UK after 1 November 2019; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Brandon Lewis

We are leaving the EU on 31 October and this will mean that freedom of movement as it currently stands will end on 31 October.

Whether we leave the EU with or without a deal, the Government has announced that EEA and Swiss nationals will be able to continue to travel to the UK for holidays or short-term trips, without needing a visa.

The arrangements for people coming to the UK for longer periods of time and for work and study will change. Details of changes immediately after 31 October and improvements to the previous government’s plans for a new immigration system are being developed.


Written Question
Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships
Monday 22nd July 2019

Asked by: Nia Griffith (Labour - Llanelli)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the UK has plans to be a signatory to the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships.

Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)

The UK is a strong supporter of action to improve the international standards for ship recycling.

The Hong Kong Convention is not expected to enter into force internationally in the near term, so the UK alongside other states, has implemented a Europe wide regime that seeks to immediately improve standards in ship recycling.

The EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU) No 1257/2013 – which will be retained in UK law after we leave the EU – entered into force on 1 January 2019. It establishes a list of acceptable yards for ship recycling, and creates controls on ships flagged to, or calling at, the UK that are intended for recycling.

The deadline for States to become a signatory to the Hong Kong Convention passed in August 2010. The Government’s current focus is on the effective implementation of the European Ship Recycling regime, but we will shortly turn to the implementation of the Convention, with a target of ratification in the next five years as set out in our strategy, ‘Maritime 2050: navigating the future’.


Written Question
Libya: Detention Centres
Thursday 4th July 2019

Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 18 June (HL16009), whether they will seek to divert refugees and migrants away from detention centres in Libya.

Answered by Baroness Sugg

The detention centres in Libya are the responsibility of the Libyan authorities. The UK is clear that civilians in areas affected by the current conflict, including refugees and migrants, must be immediately evacuated to safety. We continue to press the Libyan authorities to pursue alternatives to detention and implement a better functioning migration system that respects human rights.

Through our contribution to the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), the UK has supported the EU and Africa Union joint commitment to significantly increase voluntary returns of those who want to leave Libya, as agreed at the EU-AU Summit in November 2017. Since then, more than 57,000 people have been supported to return home, with most of these returns from Libya and Niger.

Our contribution also supports the UNHCR-led evacuation of those in need of international protection from Libya to Niger and other countries (over 3,600 people to date), and their ongoing resettlement subsequent to their evacuation. Following UNHCR’s urgent appeal for resettlement places, the UK has committed to participate in the resettlement of the most vulnerable refugees who have been evacuated by UNHCR from Libya to Niger. This will include unaccompanied minors.


Written Question
Immigration: EU Nationals
Friday 1st February 2019

Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his policy is on people to whom the EU Settlement Scheme will apply and who have held pre-settled status for five years but cannot qualify for Settled Status due to excessive absences being able to apply for a further five years' pre-settled status leave.

Answered by Caroline Nokes

To be eligible for settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, applicants will generally be required to demonstrate continuous residence in the UK for a minimum of five years in one of the eligible categories. This reflects the continuous residence criteria for the acquisition of ‘permanent residence’ under the Free Movement Directive, and the approach agreed with the European Union in the draft Withdrawal Agreement.

Should an applicant not be immediately eligible for settled status, and instead be granted pre-settled status (five years’ limited leave to remain), they must continue to meet these continuous residence criteria in order to qualify for settled status. This will be made clear to them when they are granted pre-settled status.

Those granted pre-settled status who are not eligible for settled status before the expiry of their five years’ limited leave to remain, owing to excess absence(s) from the UK, will have the option of applying for leave to remain under the new skills-based immigration system.